Braves 8, Reds 0: Justin Upton drove in three runs while extending his hitting streak to 12 games as visiting Atlanta cruised to its sixth victory in seven contests.

Andrelton Simmons homered and finished with two RBIs for the Braves, who pulled within one game of San Francisco for the National League’s second wild-card spot. Upton, Jason Heyward and Phil Gosselin each collected two hits, providing plenty of support for Julio Teheran (12-9), who gave up four hits with three strikeouts and no walks in six innings.

Cincinnati starter David Holmberg (0-1), promoted from Triple-A Louisville earlier Thursday, gave up six runs on five hits with four walks in 2 2/3 innings, and newly promoted reliever Pedro Villarreal surrendered two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 frames. Brandon Phillips and Kris Negron doubled for Cincinnati’s only extra-base hits as the Reds lost their sixth in a row and 11th in the last 13 games.

Simmons launched his fourth career homer in 11 games against Cincinnati in the second, a solo shot to left, and Atlanta seized control with a five-run third. Upton singled home two runs, Chris Johnson doubled in a run, Evan Gattis added a RBI sacrifice fly and Heyward walked with the bases loaded to put the Braves up 6-0.

Simmons’ fielder’s choice in the fourth and Upton’s sacrifice fly in the fifth pushed the Atlanta advantage to 8-0. Teheran never was in major trouble, getting Skip Schumaker to hit into a double play after plunking Ramon Santiago with a pitch to lead off the third and working around Phillips’ double in the sixth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Upton is hitting .400 during his streak with 18 RBIs. … Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman, who walked all four hitters he faced in his last appearance Sunday at Colorado, struck out two in a perfect eighth inning. … Schumaker made his fourth career pitching appearance in the ninth, walking one but allowing no hits.