sion on when to get back on the field. "Guys want to finish strong,

PHILADELPHIA -- Alfredo Simon invented new pitches to baffle hitters. Simon allowed five hits over 7 2-3 strong innings, Devin Mesoraco hit a three-run homer and the Cincinnati Reds beat the struggling Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 on Friday night. Simon (5-2) had a season-high eight strikeouts, walked one and hit one batter. Manny Parra got one out in the eighth and Aroldis Chapman struck out pinch-hitter Cesar Hernandez on a 102 mph fastball with runners on second and third for his second save in two tries. Simon mixed a strong fastball with a slider and assorted off-speed pitches to keep the Phillies off-balance. "I was trying to have fun out there," Simon said. A couple of pitches were clocked in the low 70s. "I dont know what he was throwing half the time," Mesoraco said. "I was just catching it and throwing it back." The Phillies havent scored a run in the last 20 innings and were shut out for the fifth time this season. They have lost four straight and eight of 10 to fall a season-worst five games under .500 at 17-22. Kyle Kendrick (0-4) lost his ninth straight decision, dating to last Aug. 11. He allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings. Kendrick hasnt had much help from the offence, however. The Phillies have been shut out five times in those 15 starts and have scored one run or less eight times. "Main thing is I want the team to win," Kendrick said. "Just have to go out there, take care of my job and give my team a chance to win." The Reds didnt have slugger Joey Votto because of a left distal quadriceps strain. The 2010 NL MVP remained in Cincinnati. With Jay Bruce on the disabled list, it was the first time the Reds didnt have Votto and Bruce in their lineup since Sept. 20, 2012, at the Cubs. Mesoraco provided all the support they would need. He ripped a three-run shot in his first at-bat since returning from his second trip to the disabled list. "It was terrific. His first at-bat and he gave us an early cushion," Reds manager Bryan Price said. Mesoraco was sidelined by a left hamstring injury. He arrived to the ballpark less than three hours before the first pitch after making the trip from Norfolk where he played three games for Triple-A Louisville. "I was supposed to leave early this morning and didnt leave until about 3," he said. "I was starting to panic. I didnt feel that good. My legs were tired. Things cleared up after the first swing." A reshuffled lineup didnt solve Philadelphias hitting woes. Leadoff hitter Ben Revere was out with a stomach virus, so Jimmy Rollins batted first for the first time in 70 games. Carlos Ruiz moved up to bat second and John Mayberry Jr. took Reveres spot in centre field. The Phillies squandered a few chances in the early innings. They had runners on first and third with two outs in the first, but Simon struck out Marlon Byrd to end the inning. They had runners on the corners again with one out in the third, but Simon fanned Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Simon struck out Ruiz to leave another runner on third in the fifth. NOTES: Votto had been the only Red to appear in the first 39 games. ... Reds cleanup hitter Todd Frazier was 0 for 4, ending his career-best 14-game hitting streak. .. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg has used 22 different lineups in 39 games. ... Matt Beech was the last Phillies pitcher to have a losing streak of at least nine games. He lost 11 in a row between Aug. 13, 1996 and Aug. 2, 1997. ... Cole Hamels (0-2, 5.32) of the Phillies tries again for his 100th career win Saturday night vs. Homer Bailey (3-2, 4.72). Shoes Wholesale China Market . Best has been bothered by concussion problems and hasnt played since Oct. 16, when the Lions lost to San Francisco. After starting 5-0, Detroit has lost four of six, beginning with that game against the 49ers. Replica Shoes Wholesale China . -- Kansas City Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar will have Tommy John surgery that will sideline the pitcher for the season. http://www.wholesaleshoes.us.org/ . The Canadians led for much of the game before Argentina forced overtime in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter. Canada weathered the storm after squandering a lead with a series of made shots. "Its a fantastic win for our country with 11 first-time Canadian national team members," said head coach Roy Rana. Cheap Replica Shoes China . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday. Cheap Shoes China Free Shipping . The team of Lars Nelson, Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, and anchor Marcus Hellner cruised to victory in the 4x10 km event, winning in a time of one hour, 28 minutes, and 42.MIAMI -- For the Atlanta Braves, eight innings were absolutely futile offensively. The other one was more than enough. Evan Gattis drove in two runs to highlight Atlantas highest-scoring inning in more than a month, and the Braves snapped a four-game slide by beating the Miami Marlins 5-2 Monday night. All five of the Braves hits came in the fourth, as did all their runs. "Five-spots are great," Braves second baseman Elliot Johnson said. "Itd been nice to put on a few more, but were going to take it. Anytime we end up with five and they get four or less, obviously were going to take it. Youre not trying to go out there and score 10 every night. You want to get as many as you can, but as long as you get more than they get, thats all that matters." Justin Upton, Freddie Freeman and Gattis all doubled to lead off that fourth inning, Atlantas highest-scoring frame since a five-run fifth against Philadelphia on Aug. 2. Kris Medlen (13-12) was the beneficiary that night against the Phillies and again on Monday, getting the win after allowing six hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings. Atlanta (86-57) passed idle Boston (87-58) for baseballs best record. Medlen -- who went 10-1 last season -- got his record over .500 for the first time in 2013. "Its pretty fun to look back and see that I started 1-6 and kind of turned things around," Medlen said. "Im not the one scoring the runs, and they had a huge inning for me today. Its kind of whats gotten me to this point this year." Chris Coghlan tied a career high with four hits for Miami, which lost for the 24th time in its last 34 games. Ed Lucas added a two-run double in the seventh for the Marlins. "I was able to get some good pitches to hit and had some good counts," Coghlan said. "I was able to find some holes." Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez (3-4) rolled through the first three innings, before Atlanta got to him in the fourth. Upton got it started with a double to right, Freeman followed with one to left, Gattis drove both home with another two-base hit, and the Braves were rolling. Chris Johnson and Elliot Johnson both had run-scoring singles, and Chris Johnson later scored on a wild pitcch for a 5-0 lead.dddddddddddd That was enough for Medlen and three relievers, with Craig Kimbrel working the ninth to get his 45th save in 48 tries for the NL East leaders. Atlanta has not lost more than four straight at any point this season. The Braves had some good news pregame, with manager Fredi Gonzalez announcing that slugger Jason Heyward -- out since last month with a broken jaw -- had some of "the hardware" that was surgically inserted to assist with the healing process removed. "He can eat," Gonzalez said. And more good news came afterward, given that the Braves -- who scored 10 runs during their four-game slide -- got their groove going at the plate again, if only for one inning. "Five hits and five runs on one frame," Gonzalez said. "And we made it hold up." The Marlins, meanwhile, remained on pace for a 100-loss season, and played without right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (ankle) for a second straight game. Stanton worked out pregame Monday and the Marlins are hopeful he could return to the lineup as early as Tuesday, though will let him make the decision on when to get back on the field. "Guys want to finish strong," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "They want to take advantage of every at-bat that they can and every opportunity they get to play. This time is so important for guys. I think you learn the most about your ballclub in the last three weeks of the season because guys have a lot to play for. Theyre playing for next year. Theyre trying to finish off good years, maybe finish up a not-so-good year." NOTES: Miami sends RHP Tom Koehler (3-9, 4.70) to the mound Tuesday against Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran (11-7, 3.01). ... The Braves recalled C Christian Bethancourt from Double-A Mississippi before the game. "We think the world of him," Gonzalez said. ... Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez, who will start Wednesday before getting shut down for the season, hit a ball off the centre field statue in batting practice. Since June 1, Fernandez is 9-3 with a 1.51 ERA. ... Coghlan had Miamis first three hits. ... Marlins C Jeff Mathis left after five innings with a bruised right thumb, and is day to day. ' ' '