Red-hot Ludwick powers Reds again

CINCINNATI - No Joey Votto. No Brandon Phillips. No problem for red-hot Ryan Ludwick and the Cincinnati Reds.

Ludwick homered and drove in four runs for the second consecutive game, and the Reds kept rolling along with a 6-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.

Ludwick, a Durango High and UNLV product, drove in the go-ahead run twice to lead the Reds (63-41) to their 19th victory in 22 games. Despite playing without their All-Star first and second basemen, they moved 22 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 5, 2010.

"With Joey out, it's been different people at different times," said Ludwick, a former Padre who's hitting .388 (19-for-49) with six home runs and 20 RBIs since Votto left the lineup July 16. "Phillips, myself, Zack Cozart, the pitching - everybody's pitching in. Now, with Phillips out, it's even more important for everybody to pitch in."

Votto, the 2010 National League Most Valuable Player, is on the disabled list following knee surgery. Phillips sat out with a strained left calf.

The Reds remained three games ahead of second-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central. The Pirates open a three-game series Friday in Cincinnati.

Cozart also homered, and Bronson Arroyo pitched six innings to earn his third straight win. Arroyo (7-6) allowed seven hits and four runs with two walks and one strikeout.

Sean Marshall worked a scoreless seventh and Jonathan Broxton a spotless eighth in his Cincinnati debut after being acquired Tuesday from Kansas City. Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Padres starter Kip Wells (2-4) allowed five runs and five hits with four walks in 4 1/3 innings.

Chase Headley homered for San Diego, which has lost three of four.