Votto hits homer and Wells allows 1 hit in 6 innings in Cincinnati’s 3-1 win

Wells wins first game in more than 16 months

ATLANTA — Joey Votto hit a two-run homer and Kip Wells pitched six innings of one-hit ball to win his first game in more than 16 months and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 Saturday night for their season-high sixth straight win.

The fading Braves, who fell six games behind Colorado in the NL wild-card race, have lost four straight.

Wells (1-3), who had not won since April 17, 2008, when he was with Colorado, allowed only a single to Garret Anderson in the second inning. The right-hander walked four, struck out four and hit a batter.

Votto hit a two-run homer off Jair Jurrjens (10-10) in the sixth inning to put the Reds up 2-0. Brandon Phillips followed with a double to left and scored on an RBI single by Scott Rolen.

Jurrjens allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in seven innings.

Nate McLouth hit a run-scoring single off Nick Masset in the seventh.

Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 32nd save in 34 attempts.

NOTES: Jurrjens threw all eight of his first inning pitches for strikes and 15 of 16 through the second, retiring all six Cincinnati hitters. … Atlanta SS Yunel Escobar, who suffered a right ankle sprain in Friday night’s 3-1 loss to the Reds, said the ankle felt better but indicated he would not play until Tuesday. … The Reds have won a season-high six straight on the road. … Cincinnati rookie Drew Sutton, who has played second and third base, started in left field. Reds manager Dusty Baker said he thinks it helps if a utility player can play the infield and outfield.