Leake struggles as Reds fall to Rockies

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Nolan Arenado was fifth among NL third baseman in the All-Star Game vote totals released on Wednesday.

If he keeps playing the way he has the past few days, he's sure to make it.

Arenado hit a three-run homer on Wednesday, extending his hitting tear, and Kyle Kendrick pitched into the eighth inning for his first win since opening day, leading the Colorado Rockies to a 6-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The Rockies won for the fourth time in five games. Arenado had a lot to do with it, going 9 for 16 with three homers, one triple and 10 RBIs in the past four games.

"He'll be in the All-Star Game, I believe -- one way or another," manager Walt Weiss said. "That's my campaign speech."

Arenado hit his 10th homer in the first inning off Mike Leake (2-4) and added a single, giving Kendrick (2-6) the help he needed to get a long-awaited win.

Kendrick signed with the Rockies as a free agent, pitched seven shutout innings to beat Milwaukee on opening day, and hadn't won since, going 0-6 with a 7.58 ERA in his past eight starts. The right-hander gave up five hits, including solo homers by Todd Frazier and Tucker Barnhart, in 7 1-3 innings.

"The first couple of innings, I got quick outs and the ball was moving well, my sinker was good," said Kendrick, who got nine outs off ground balls. "I got ahead in the count and got early contact. As a starter, that's what you want to do."

Boone Logan walked Frazier with the bases loaded in the eighth and gave up Jay Bruce's RBI single, cutting it to 6-4. John Axford faced three batters in the ninth while getting his eighth save in as many chances.

The Rockies lost 11 in a row earlier this season, the worst slump in the majors. They've started to play better all-around lately.

"A couple of weeks ago, it was really hard," Arenado said. "Hopefully we're past the really hard road trips."

The Reds have lost 10 of 11, a streak that started when one of the home run smokestacks at Great American Ball Park caught fire during a loss to the Giants on May 15. After the latest loss, manager Bryan Price held a closed-door meeting.

"Nobody likes talking about the last 11 games," Price said. "Nobody in there is bringing in any dancing girls."

The Reds ended a nine-game losing streak -- their longest in 17 years -- with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night. They didn't have much of a chance as Leake struggled through another rough start, giving up nine hits and six runs in only five innings. Charlie Blackmon added a two-run homer in the second inning.

In his past three starts, Leake has allowed 20 runs, 27 hits and six homers in only 14 innings.