Scutaro hits two-run homer, Rolen and Barajas add solo shots as Blue Jays beat Reds 7-5

Scutaro, Rolen and Barajas homer for Blue Jays

TORONTO — Marco Scutaro hit a two-run homer, Scott Rolen and Rod Barajas each added solo shots and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-5 on Tuesday night.

Pitching on three days’ rest, Toronto left-hander Brian Tallet (5-4) matched a season-high with seven strikeouts in six shutout innings. He allowed three hits and walked one.

Jason Frasor closed it out in the ninth for his second save in four chances.

The Reds (34-35) lost their third straight and fell below .500 for the first time since April 12, when they were 2-3.

Rolen opened the scoring with a homer to center in the second, his fifth.

One out later, Alex Rios singled, then stole second and third before scoring on Barajas’ fielder’s choice grounder.

Aaron Hill doubled and scored on Adam Lind’s single in the third, and Barajas hit a one-out homer to left in the fourth, his seventh.

Scutaro chased Cincinnati starter Micah Owings in the sixth with a two-out drive that barely cleared the wall in left. The homer was Scutaro’s first since April 30.

Owings (4-8) allowed six runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings and has lost five of his past eight starts. He walked two and struck out one.

Cincinnati scored four in the seventh against two Blue Jays relievers. Shawn Camp was yanked after loading the bases with two walks and a single, and Jay Bruce greeted lefty Jesse Carlson with a two-run double to right. Adam Rosales and Chris Dickerson followed with sacrifice flies.

Toronto made it 7-4 on Lind’s RBI single off left-hander Danny Herrera in the bottom half, but Brandon Phillips had a run-scoring grounder against Blue Jays right-hander Brandon League in the eighth.

After being activated off the 15-day disabled list before the game, Reds first baseman Joey Votto revealed that anxiety over his father’s death is what kept him out of the lineup since May 29. Joseph Votto died last August, aged 52. Votto, who went 1 for 4 with a single, did not disclose details of his father’s death.