Kazmir's big 4th inning lead Indians past Reds 7-1

Reds held to 1 run in 7 innings; Indians score 7 in 4th in 7-1 win

Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes, left, and relief pitcher Matt Albers celebrate the Indians' 7-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

CLEVELAND — Scott Kazmir allowed one run in seven innings and the Cleveland Indians scored seven runs with two outs in the fourth to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 on Thursday.

The fourth-inning rally, which featured six straight run-scoring hits, gave the Indians a split of the annual Ohio Cup interleague series. The Reds won in Cincinnati on Monday and Tuesday before the Indians took both games when the series shifted to Cleveland.

The Reds have lost nine in a row at Progressive Field and haven’t won in Cleveland since May 22, 2010.

Kazmir (3-2), recording his longest outing in the majors in three years, dodged a bases-loaded jam in the third when he got Joey Votto to bounce into an inning-ending double play.

Run-scoring singles by Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes, an RBI double by Ryan Raburn, a two-run double by Michael Bourn and an RBI single by Jason Kipnis chased starter Homer Bailey (3-4) in the fourth. Asdrubal Cabrera added a run-scoring double off Alfredo Simon.

Jay Bruce drove in Cincinnati’s only run with an RBI single in the sixth.

The Indians carried a five-game losing streak, in which they scored 14 runs, into the series. Cleveland had also dropped seven of eight, but the bats woke up when the Reds hit town. Cleveland homered twice Wednesday, including a game-clinching three-run homer by Jason Giambi, and fell one run off their biggest inning of the season Thursday.

Cabrera was hit by a pitch to start the fourth and took second on Carlos Santana’s one-out single. After Mark Reynolds struck out, Brantley, who was in a 1-for-15 skid, singled sharply through the left side to score Cabrera. Gomes followed by lining a single to left, scoring Santana. Raburn’s double to left scored Brantley before Bourn drove a double into the left-field corner for two more runs and a 5-0 lead.

Kipnis, who was in a 4-for-34 slump, singled to right to score Bourn and finish Bailey. Cabrera doubled to right against Simon.

Brantley and Kipnis weren’t the only Cleveland hitters to break out of slumps in the inning. Santana came into the game batting .204 in May while Raburn was in a 3-for-24 skid.

Bailey, who threw 45 pitches in the fourth, lasted 3 2-3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. The right-hander allowed seven runs — tying his season high.

Kazmir, a two-time All-Star with Tampa Bay, had his career sidetracked by arm problems that began in 2009. He was traded to the Angels that season but was 9-15 in 2010 and appeared in only one game the following year before being released. The Indians signed him to a minor-league contract in January after he pitched in an independent league last season.

Kazmir, who was 0-1 and allowed 11 earned runs in 13 innings in his past three starts, won for the first time since May 9.

Cincinnati loaded the bases with one out in the third. Derrick Robinson led off with a single, and singles by Shin-Soo Choo and Cesar Izturis loaded the bases. Votto, who came into the game batting .417 in May, hit a slow roller to the right side and Kipnis started the double play.

Votto went 0-for-4, snapping his career-long 18-game road hitting streak.

Bailey retired the first seven hitters before Gomes reached on an infield hit. Third baseman Todd Frazier charged the slow bouncer but couldn’t make the barehanded grab.

NOTES: Raburn left the game in the fifth with cramping in his lower legs. He’s listed day to day. ... The Reds begin a three-game series Friday in Pittsburgh. RHP Johnny Cueto (2-0) takes on Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-2). ... Votto is the only Cincinnati player to appear in all 54 games this season. ... The Indians continue their five-game homestand Friday against Tampa Bay. RHP Corey Kluber (3-3) faces Rays righty Alex Cobb (6-2) in the opener of the three-game set. ... Indians RHP Justin Masterson, who defeated the Reds on Wednesday, is 4-0 with a 0.36 ERA in his past 25 innings at Progressive Field. ... Cleveland 1B Nick Swisher was honored by the FBI Citizens Academy Foundation before the game. Swisher donated $25,000 to the organization in support of the FBI’s Child ID Kit program.