Mike Leake threw six solid innings and Francisco Cordero wriggled out a base-loaded jam in the ninth inning as the Cincinnati Reds held on for a 5-4 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday.

Drew Stubbs homered and Ramon Hernandez drove in a run for Cincinnati, which has won two straight to move into a tie for first place with St. Louis atop the National League Central standings. The Cardinals lost to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

The Reds nearly failed to capitalize on St. Louis' loss.

The Marlins loaded the bases in the ninth, but Cordero got Gabby Sanchez to hit into a double play. He finished off his 31st save in 37 chances when Dan Uggla popped out to first. The Marlins finished 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Cordero's narrow escape made a grateful winner out of Leake (8-4). The right-hander entered 0-3 with a 9.60 ERA in his last three starts, but allowed three runs and six hits Saturday for his first victory since July 20.

He helped his own cause with an RBI single off Sean West (0-2) that capped a three-run fourth and gave the Reds a 3-0 lead.

Wes Helms' solo shot in the sixth cut the lead to 4-3, but the Marlins failed repeatedly with the tying run in scoring position. Florida has dropped two straight since its season-high four-game winning streak.

West allowed four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings.