Cincinnati, OH -- (Sports Network) - David Ross went 3-for-4 with fives runs batted in and Edwin Encarnacion had two doubles and three RBI to lead the Cincinnati Reds past the Pittsburgh Pirates, 14-7, at Great American Ballpark.

With the win, Cincinnati (63-60) retains its slim one-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks to stay atop the National League Wildcard race.

Reds left-hander Eric Milton lasted only four innings, giving up six runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking one on 100 pitches. Relief pitcher Ryan Franklin (3-6) picked up the win but also suffered his second blown save of the season after yielding the tying run in the seventh.

The Reds quickly picked him up with seven runs in the bottom of the frame to run away with the game.

Pirates starter Paul Maholm pitched five innings and struck out seven, but got roughed up for seven runs on 10 hits with one walk. Salomon Torres (3-6) took the loss after yielding five runs -- one earned -- over 1 1/3 frames for the Pirates, who have dropped three of four.

Jason Bay homered and finished with four RBI in defeat.

Cincinnati jumped to a 6-0 lead in the first inning. Encarnacion hit his 25th double of the season, scoring Ryan Freel and Royce Clayton. Both Freel and Clayton singled to jump-start the inning, then each stole a base to advance to third and second respectively.

Following a walk to Adam Dunn, Rich Aurilia doubled to score Encarnacion and Dunn, giving the Reds a quick 4-0 lead.

With one out, Ross lined a single to left and advanced to second after Aurilia touched home. Brandon Phillips followed with a single, scoring Ross.

Pittsburgh cut the lead in half in the third on a Xavier Nady two-out, two-run double. Freddy Sanchez and Bay, both of whom singled to keep the inning alive, scored on the play.

Ronny Paulino added a single of his own to bring home Nady, making it a 6-3 game.

In the home-half of the inning, Ross hit a solo homer to left to give the Reds a four-run advantage.

The Pirates got within one run in the fifth when Bay smacked a three-run home run to left, making it a 7-6 game. Jack Wilson singled to lead off the inning and Sanchez drew a walk.

Milton, who failed to record an out in the fifth, was taken out and the bullpen took over.

Bay tied the game for the Pirates in the seventh with a sacrifice fly off of Franklin. Wilson, who led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on Sanchez's double, scored on the play.

The tie didn't last long, as the Reds broke the game wide open with a seven- run seventh.

Freel started the inning with a single, followed by a double by Clayton that scored Freel. Clayton moved to third on a fielding error by Paulino at home. With one out, Torres intentionally walked Ken Griffey Jr., but gave up a double to Encarnacion that scored Clayton, making it a 9-7 game.

After an intentional walk to Dunn, Torres was replaced by Matt Capps, who retired his first batter but couldn't stop the bleeding.

Ross cleared the bases with a three-run double to left, giving Cincinnati a 12-7 advantage.

Phillips added two more runs with his 12th homer of the season.

Game Notes

Cincinnati closer Eddie Guardado left the game in the ninth with an injury to his pitching arm...Ross' five RBI is a career high...Griffey extended his hitting streak to six games...Sanchez's hitting streak continues at 11 games.