Reds 3, Rockies 2: Rookie Kris Negron broke a tie in the ninth inning with an RBI single for his first four-hit game, and Johnny Cueto won his fifth straight start and seventh consecutive decision to become the first 15-game winner in the major leagues as visiting Cincinnati prevailed.

Cueto (15-6), whose ERA rose to 2.06, allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings as the Reds moved to within three games of the final National League wild card spot. Ramon Santiago and Jay Bruce recorded RBIs and Aroldis Chapman worked around a one-out walk in the ninth to record his 26th save in 28 opportunities.

Nolan Arenado homered and Corey Dickerson also drove in a run for Colorado, which failed in its bid to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game streak from July 23-26. The Rockies used exclusively relievers - six total - after scheduled starter Franklin Morales left the team earlier Friday to witness the birth of his child.

Santiago led off the ninth with a single to right-center against Adam Ottavino (0-4) and was sacrificed to second by Zack Cozart. After pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker walked on five pitches, Billy Hamilton (two hits) popped out before Negron lined an 0-1 pitch up the middle to lift Cincinnati to its second victory in seven games.

Arenado led off the second by blasting a 1-1 pitch out to left before the Reds took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on Santiago's run-scoring single. Colorado got even in the sixth when Dickerson delivered a one-out RBI double to left, but Cueto escaped further trouble by striking out Charlie Culberson and DJ LeMahieu with the bases loaded.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rockies didn't learn until early afternoon - too late to bring up a starter from Triple-A Colorado Springs because the team is in Sacramento - that Morales became unavailable, so Matt Belisle made his first start since 2008 after 380 relief appearances and allowed one run and four hits in three innings. ... The Reds will call up RHP Dylan Axelrod from Triple-A Louisville to start Saturday in place of Homer Bailey, who is headed for the disabled list with an elbow strain. ... Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips, who has not played since July 10 because of a thumb injury, went 0-for-2 and walked in his first rehab game with Triple-A Louisville. ... Chapman's record streak of 49 games with a strikeout came to an end.