Leake dominant in Reds' win over Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — If the Reds are going to trade Mike Leake before Friday’s non-waiver trade deadline, Tuesday’s start was his last as a Red — at least this year.

Leake went eight shutout innings to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 Tuesday night before a crowd of 41,466 at Busch Stadium. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three.

He’s allowed a total of three runs over his last 30 innings. His trade value has to have increased.

BOX SCORE: Reds 4, Cardinals 0

“I’m sure (general manager Walt Jocketty) and the front office are happy,” Leake said.

One way or another, the wait is almost over.

“Now, it’s make or break,” Leake said. “It will be my last start or I’m back. Three more days until the deadline. We’ll see what happens. I’ve been constantly checking the updates and seeing what’s happening,” he said. “Now, I’ll go back to that.”

The Reds still have Leake penciled in to start Sunday.

“It’s the same for us,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “It’s out of my control. Mike’s still a Cincinnati Red. I’ve got no reason to believe anything else. I know his name is out there. I know there’s a lot of teams that like him. We’ll plan for him to pitch and make his next start.”

Leake is 9-5 with a 3.56 ERA. He’s gone 16 innings in two starts versus St. Louis this year, allowing two runs on eight hits.

“The fact that I’ve been able to learn the last few outings is what I enjoy the most,” Leake said. “It’s been a long six years. It’s a matter of continuing to get better. I feel like I’ve learned a lot.”

The victory snapped a six-game losing streak against the Cardinals.

Joey Votto continued his tear, breaking a scoreless tie with a three-run home run in the sixth inning. He went 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs, a double and the homer. He is 23-for-41 (.561) since the All-Star break and 16-for-27 (.593) in his last eight games.

Votto’s average is up to .311.

“The results are coming out really well,” Votto said. “That’s all I can tell you. I’m continue to work on my swing and improving. That’s all I’ve got.”

Votto is coming off an injury-filled, very un-Votto-like year. How satisfying is a run like this?

“It would be more satisfying if we were winning more games and were in the middle of a hunt,” he said. “In a way, it’s kind of bittersweet. Everybody who puts a uniform on wants to do their job and answer for themselves. I’m no different. I want the respect of teammates, the satisfaction of my employer and the appreciation of the fans.”

Leake retired the first six he faced. He allowed a leadoff walk to Stephen Piscotty in the third, then retired the next eight in order. Piscotty singled into right in the fifth to break up the no-hitter.

“He was really good tonight,” Votto said. “Against a good lineup and a very good team. For him to miss so many bats ... They’re a lineup that puts the ball in play and hits line drives.”

The Reds weren’t exactly tearing it up against left-hander Jaime Garcia either. Votto walked with two outs in the first and singled with one out in the fourth. That was the sum total for the Reds through five.

Leake led off the sixth with a single to right. Billy Hamilton bunted him over to second. Jason Bourgeois, in the lineup because he was 6-for-11 against Garcia, struck out.

Brandon Phillips worked a walk. Votto took a ball, then unloaded on a 92-mph fastball, sending it out to center for his 19th of the year. The shot was estimated at 418 feet.

Leake gave up a one-out single to Kolten Wong in the sixth and a two-out double to Mark Reynolds in the seventh. Neither advanced.

Leake’s first real jam came in the eighth. He gave up a one-out double to pinch-hitter Jason Heyward. Monday night’s hero for the Cards, Wong, gave one a ride, but Hamilton ran it down near the wall in right-center. Leake then struck out Matt Carpenter on three pitches.

That pushed Leake’s pitch count to 95.

“There’s a common thread when he’s pitching this well,” Price said. “It’s tempo and conviction in his pitches and the attack mode.”

Votto doubled to left to lead off the ninth. An out later, Jay Bruce singled into right to get him in.

Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth in a non-save situation.