Recap: Cincinnati vs. Houston

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Bronson Arroyo went seven innings, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips both homered and the Cincinnati Reds downed the Houston Astros, 5-1, on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.

Arroyo (12-7) was charged with one run on seven hits. He walked two, struck out five and picked up his fifth win in six starts.

Bruce and Phillips both hit solo shots, while Ryan Hanigan added an RBI single during a three-run sixth inning.

The NL Central-leading Reds dropped the opener of this three-game series on Friday when Aroldis Chapman suffered his first blown save since June 24.

"It was important for us to win, especially the way the scoreboard was looking up there with Pittsburgh losing and St. Louis losing," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

Bud Norris (5-12) continued to struggle for the last-place Astros. The righty gave up five runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings and fell to 0-11 in his last 16 starts.

Justin Maxwell had a first-inning, RBI single in the loss.

"Bronson was great other than that first inning," Baker said of his starter.

Bruce led off the second with his 33rd homer of the year and Phillips cracked his 16th to start the third.

In the sixth, Joey Votto hit a leadoff double before walks to Bruce (intentional) and Todd Frazier loaded the bases with one down. Hanigan's base hit to right plated Votto and knocked Norris from the game.

Wilson Valdez then tapped a soft grounder towards the mound and reliever Fernando Rodriguez threw the ball away while attempting to record a force out at home plate.

Bruce and Frazier scored on the play for a 5-1 lead.

Sean Marshall tossed a scoreless eighth and Jonathan Broxton stranded a pair in the ninth, as the Reds halted a two-game slide.