Finnegan, Reds Shut Down Cardinals 7-0 Thursday

Brandon Phillips had three hits and left-hander Brandon Finnegan allowed two hits in six innings on Thursday, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-0 victory and a rare series win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds took two of three, giving them only their fifth series win in the last 23 between the NL Central rivals. For the first time since 1999, the Reds have won six straight series after the All-Star break.

Phillips had a single and a pair of doubles, scored three times and drove in a run against former teammate Mike Leake (8-9). Ramon Cabrera drove in three runs, and Eugenio Suarez knocked in a pair.

Finnegan (7-8) allowed a pair of singles, and the bullpen gave up three more while closing out Cincinnati's fourth shutout, which is tied with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh for the fewest in the NL.