Joey Votto belted a three-run homer and Mike Leake pitched five solid innings as the Cincinnati Reds built a huge lead before holding on for an 8-7 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Corky Miller collected two hits and an RBI and Leake drove in a run for the Reds, who won for just the fourth time in nine games.

Votto staked Cincinnati to a 3-0 lead before Washington starter Luis Atilano was able to record an out, following a pair of walks in the first inning with his 23rd blast of the season. Nyjer Morgan got the Nationals on the board with an RBI single in the third, but Leake plated a run with a base hit in the fourth and another run came home on a groundout by Orlando Cabrera for a 5-1 bulge.

Cincinnati scored three times in the fifth for an 8-1 advantage following a 2-hour, 40-minute rain delay.

But Washington rallied for six runs in the sixth to draw within one. Ryan Zimmerman hit his 17th homer of the year, a two-run shot off Micah Owings, and Michael Morse drilled a three-run triple off Bill Bray before scoring on Ian Desmond's double.

Nick Masset and Arthur Rhodes combined for two scoreless innings before Francisco Cordero worked a perfect ninth to notch his 26th save in 32 opportunities. The trio preserved the win for Leake (7-1), who allowed one run and five hits in five innings but did not return to the mound following the rain delay.

Atilano (6-7) was touched for five runs and five hits in four frames as Washington suffered its fourth straight loss and sixth in seven games. The Nationals fell to 1-4 on their 10-game road trip.