Reds 8, Mets 4

When a guy comes in 10-4 with 2.71 ERA -- as John Maine did Friday for the Mets -- jumping on him early is a good idea. Brandon Phillips did that by hitting the first pitch he saw well out to the left for a grand slam.

Phillips tied a career-high with six RBI on the night. He may look more like a sprinter than the cleanup hitter, but he's doing the job.

“He's not scared,” Pete Mackanin said. “He’ll take on the challenge. There's more to hitting clean-up than hitting home runs but he’s doing that well.”

Phillips has 18 home runs -- one more than he hit last year, which was his high as a professional.

“I'm happy to have a job,” Phillips said. “Hitting fourth is a privilege. It shows he trusts me.”

Phillips extended his hitting streak to nine games. He’s hitting .366 with four home runs and 13 RBI during the streak.

Aaron Harang pitched six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, to improve to 10-2. He walked two and struck out eight. Harang has won five straight decisions.

The Reds are 6-2 under Mackanin.