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Reds snap 9-game road losing streak, beat Phillies

PHILADELPHIA -- It seems hard to believe, but the Reds on Thursday night won their first road game in nearly a month in a 6-4 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Brandon Phillips and Billy Hamilton each had two RBIs, while Anthony DeSclafani allowed six hits and four runs in seven innings to snap Cincinnati's nine-game losing streak on the road. The Reds last won on the road May 9 against the White Sox in Chicago.

"There was really over the course of this series three innings that got away from us and unfortunately cost us the first two [games]," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We [can't] dwell on this game and [just] stay in the present. Enjoy this game and use it as something that feels good. We're going to get in early in the morning on Friday and it's nice coming to the ballpark after a win."

Video: CIN@PHI: Hamilton hits a two-run single to center

The Phillies won the first two games of this three-game series with late-inning heroics from Maikel Franco. But there would be no comeback in the finale as Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang suffered his worst start of the season, allowing six runs in 5 2/3 innings. He said an instant replay delay of four minutes, 35 seconds in the fifth inning, which allowed the Reds to score the go-ahead run, made things difficult.

"It changed the pace and feel of everything," he said.

Video: CIN@PHI: Chapman strikes out the side, earns save

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Phillips on fire at plate: Although the Reds lost the series, it was a nice one for Phillips, who was 3-for-5 in the game and 8-for-15 in the three games. Phillips made it a 2-2 score in the fifth when he lined a RBI double off the left-field wall that scored Skip Schumaker. In the three-run sixth, Phillips stretched the lead to four runs with an RBI single to right field that ended Harang's night.

"It was nice. Phillips had an outstanding [series]," DeSclafani said. "Even his outs were hard outs. It's good to see he was swinging the bat well." More >

Video: CIN@PHI: Phillips pads lead with single to right

Harang finally hit: Harang has been one of the Phillies' few bright spots this season. He entered the game with a 2.02 ERA, which ranked fifth in the National League. But Harang struggled against the Reds. He allowed six hits, six runs, five walks and struck out one in 5 2/3 innings, which was his shortest start of the season. More >

DeSclafani rights ship: It was a rocky beginning of the night for DeSclafani, who gave up three extra-base hits and two runs in the bottom of the first. After that, the rookie was mostly smooth and his next two hits allowed -- leadoff singles in the third and sixth innings -- were erased by inning-ending double plays.

"I was glad I was able to put zeros on the board, keep the game close and give the team a chance to win," said DeSclafani, a Freehold, N.J., native who had 25-30 family and friends to watch him pitch.

Video: CIN@PHI: DeSclafani receives ovation from family

An early boom, then silence: Ben Revere tripled, Chase Utley doubled and Franco doubled in the first inning as the Phillies took a 2-1 lead. But the Phillies managed just two more hits until they scored twice in the eighth.

Video: CIN@PHI: Revere hits a leadoff triple off Bruce

QUOTABLE

"You always know how many options you have left. It just got frustrating." -- Phillies left-hander Jake Diekman, who was optioned to Triple-A after the game More >

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard had been on a roll until recently. He is hitting .061 (2-for-33) with two doubles, one RBI, one walk and 11 strikeouts in his last nine games, while Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis is hitless in his last 26 at-bats.

FLASHING THE LEATHER

The Phillies made a highlight reel of nice defensive plays in the first three innings before things fell apart. Franco made a catch over the railing in foul territory in the first. Howard followed with a catch over the railing on the other side of the field in the second. Cody Asche and Utley then made nice catches in the third inning.

Video: CIN@PHI: Phils make several great defensive plays

INSTANT REPLAY

The Reds had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning when Todd Frazier hit a ground ball to Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis, who threw to home plate for the forceout. But instead of stepping on the plate, Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz tagged out DeSclafani. The Reds thought Ruiz blocked the plate, which would be a violation of the home-plate collision rule. Four minutes, 35 seconds later, the replay official in New York overturned the call. He ruled that because Ruiz never attempted to touch home plate and instead attempted to tag the runner, he violated the collision rule. It was a costly mistake for Ruiz because it allowed the Reds to take a 3-2 lead.

Video: CIN@PHI: DeSclafani scores after review overturns out

WHAT'S NEXT

Reds: A six-game homestand begins with the first of three games against the Padres on Friday at 7:10 p.m. ETRaisel Iglesias will make the series-opening start for the Reds against San Diego's Tyson Ross. Iglesias gave up five earned runs over 5 2/3 innings for a no-decision vs. the Nationals on Saturday. He did strike out a season-high eight batters in the outing.

Phillies: Right-hander Jerome Williams opens a three-game series against the Giants on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET. Williams hopes June treats him more kindly than May. He went 1-4 with a 6.62 ERA in seven starts last month. He pitched past the fifth inning just once.

Watch every out-of-market regular season game live on MLB.TV.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his Phillies blog The Zo Zone, follow him on Twitter and listen to his podcast.
Read More: Jake Diekman, Billy Hamilton, Carlos Ruiz, Cody Asche, Aaron Harang, Jerome Williams, Chase Utley, Brandon Phillips, Ryan Howard, Freddy Galvis, Maikel Franco, Anthony DeSclafani, Todd Frazier, Skip Schumaker, Ben Revere