MILWAUKEE -- Joey Votto contorted his body in the batters box as if he was trying to will his towering fly ball to stay fair as it sailed down the right field line. Jake Allen Jersey . It did. Barely. The ball bounced off the foul pole for a two-run homer, helping the Cincinnati Reds keep pace in the NL Central race with a 7-3 victory Saturday over the Milwaukee Brewers. Maybe Vottos drive will be the spark that gets some of the Reds best hitters going down the stretch of a tight pennant chase. The Reds had lost three of their previous four. "Every game, from my perspective, its as important in April as it is in September," Votto said. "But, weve got a pretty good idea of whats happening around you. You have an idea of whos behind you and whos ahead of you, how many games you need to make up." The Pirates won Saturday night to draw even atop the division with the Cardinals, who lost. The Reds are 2 1/2 games behind both teams. Cincinnati is also trying to fend off Washington in the wild-card race. The Nationals fell 5 1/2 games back after losing to the Phillies. Homer Bailey (11-10) allowed three runs over seven innings in winning his career-best sixth straight decision. Votto and leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo each finished 2 of 3 with three RBIs and two-run homers. "We scored enough runs and got a win," Bailey said. "We needed it." Driving in runs has been a challenge for four of the Reds big bats in September. Brandon Phillips, Ryan Ludwick, Jay Bruce and Votto had combined for 13 RBIs in 12 games this month entering Saturday. Manager Dusty Baker met privately with some hitters before the game. The Reds skipper declined to give details. Regardless of who was in the meeting, and what was said, the bats broke through. Fifth-place hitter Ludwick was 2 of 5, while No. 6 Todd Frazier went 2 of 4 with an RBI. Votto said he waited at the plate during his homer only because he wasnt sure if it would go foul. Too bad for the Brewers. "I was hoping that ball had a lot of hook in it," manager Ron Roenicke said. "But it got up there and stayed there." The homer travelled an estimated 470 feet, tied with a long ball by Rickie Weeks in 2011 for the fourth-longest in the 11-year history of Miller Park. The Brewers had a shot in the eighth after Jeff Bianchi was walked by Sam LeCure to load the bases with two outs for pinch-hitter Jonathan Lucroy. Baker responded by bringing in All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman in the eighth. The last time he faced the hard-throwing closer, on Aug. 16 at Miller Park, Lucroy hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give Milwaukee a 7-6 win. Same ballpark, different result. This time, Lucroy swung at a 100 mph heater in the dirt. The ball skipped past the plate and bounced off the backstop, though catcher Devin Mesoraco retrieved it in time to throw out Lucroy at first. "To repeat something like that, really tough," Roenicke said about Lucroys chances of success again off Chapman. "At a 101 mph, its tough." Chapman walked two in the ninth, but struck out the last two batters to finish off his 36th save. Brewers rookie Johnny Hellweg (1-4), making his fifth career major league start, allowed eight hits and four runs, and hit three batters over five innings. Carlos Gomez had two hits and an RBI for the Brewers, while Jean Segura stole his NL-leading 43rd base of the season. They got outmuscled by Choo and Votto at the plate. Choo reached on a walk with one out in the sixth. One out later, Votto turned on a fastball from reliever Michael Blazek for his 23rd homer and a 6-3 lead. Bailey allowed five hits, with the Brewers causing all their damage in the fourth. Khris Davis, back in the lineup after missing more than a week with a sore left wrist, doubled home Scooter Gennett. Gomez singled home Davis. The speedy Gomez then stole his 36th base before advancing home on two consecutive sacrifice flies to get Milwaukee to 4-3. Vottos homer two innings later gave the Reds a three-run cushion again. NOTES: Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez (left wrist) was unavailable after being hit by a pitch Friday night. He was considered day to day ... Milwaukee is testing different tinting and shading on windows near the roof down the right-field line in an effort to help reduce glare during day games. The team hopes to have its chosen option in place for next season. Brian Sutter Jersey . At 11:06 of the first period, Neal struck Marchand with his knee when Marchand was down on the ice. Marchand remained in the game. Neal was assessed a kneeing penalty for his hit on Marchand. Robert Thomas Jersey . -- Theres nothing like winning to bring hope for a struggling team. http://www.nhlbluesauthority.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla.TORONTO - After the Toronto Maple Leafs fired coach Randy Carlyle, general manager Dave Nonis handed the reins to assistants Peter Horachek and Steve Spott for the time being. Heres a look at some of the potential candidates to take over on a full-time basis, either soon or after the season:Pete DeBoerFired as coach of the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 26, DeBoer could fit right in with what the Maple Leafs want to do as far as improving puck possession. DeBoer has a relationship with Spott and winger David Clarkson from the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League and is considered a Brendan Shanahan guy.Mike BabcockBabcock is under contract with the Detroit Red Wings until the end of this season, but that hasnt stopped the speculation about the NHLs best coach going elsewhere. Reportedly interested in becoming the highest-paid coach in the league and running a winner, Babcock would have to weigh those things if considering the Leafs.Dan BylsmaFired by the Pittsburgh Penguins after another disappointing playoff exit, Bylsma is a players coach who would be very opposite of Carlyle. Bylsma won the Cup in 2009 after taking over for Michel Therrien and can at least be part of changing the culture with a new team.Todd McLellanThe San Jose Sharks off-season circus has given way to a pretty good hockey team. But if the Sharks fall apart in the playoffs again, McLellan could be out of a job and instantly becomes a top candidate. Had McLellan been fired seven months ago, the Leafs mightve parted ways with Carlyle to get him then.Peter HorachekHorachek ran the first practice of the post-Carlyle era and could be running the show in the interim as Leafs brass decides what to do. Horachek was the interim coacch when the Florida Panthers fired Kevin Dineen last season. Wade Megan Jersey. The Panthers didnt give him the chance, but the Leafs just might.Dale HunterMark Hunter was recently hired as the Maple Leafs director of player personnel and could be an NHL GM of the future. If that future is in Toronto as a replacement for Dave Nonis, Mark could hire his brother Dale, who had a short stint with the Washington Capitals. Remember, Shanahan is a London Knights product.Steve SpottSpott is in first season as an NHL assistant and would have to be considered a long shot. But he enjoyed success with Kitchener and then the AHLs Toronto Marlies in reaching the conference final. Spott is a tell-it-like-it-is guy, something a core of stars on their third coach could use.Paul MacLeanThe 2013 Jack Adams winner as coach of the year was fired by the Ottawa Senators in early December, not because he had become bad at his job but that his attitude had changed. MacLeans tactics, like Carlyles, may be outdated, but he can motivate a group as a fresh voice if called upon.Kevin DineenDineens time with the Panthers didnt work out so well, but that may have been a product of a group not yet ready to win. Hes on Joel Quennevilles staff with the Chicago Blackhawks this season and may be ready for another head job soon. Dineen is from Toronto and a young up-and-comer.Dallas EakinsEakins was the hottest coaching candidate two summers ago when the Edmonton Oilers hired him. The former Toronto Marlies coach couldnt get the Oilers turned around and paid the price by getting fired last month. Eakins may be destined for an assistant-coaching job first before getting another shot at running a team.---Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '