ARLINGTON, Texas — Jimmy Haynes is pitching like — dare we say it? — a stopper. Haynes won his fourth straight decision, a career high, as the Reds beat the Texas Rangers 8-5 Tuesday before 22,446 at The Ballpark in Arlington.

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Adam Dunn swats a two-run HR in the first inning. (AP photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        The Reds gave Haynes more than enough support with the long ball. Adam Dunn hit a pair of two-run homers, and Russell Branyan added a solo shot.

        The definition of a stopper is a pitcher who ends losing streaks. Haynes has been that.

        Three of the victories in Haynes' streak have followed Reds losses. On Tuesday, the Reds needed a win badly. A loss would have been their third in a row and made them 1-4 on their road trip.

        “He's given us quality games when we've really needed it,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We knew he had that in him when we signed him. It was a matter of getting it out.”

        How important has Haynes been in keeping the Reds in first place in the National League Central? Since May 25, he has four of the Reds' eight wins.

Jason LaRue prepares to throw to first after Alex Rodriguez takes off on a dropped third strike. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Haynes, a 29-year-old right-hander, pushed his record to 7-5. He won eight games (and lost 17) last year for the Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds signed him for $500,000 — a bargain by baseball standards.

        “His stuff has always been good enough,” Boone said. “It's a matter of command. When he puts it where he wants it, his breaking ball is pretty potent.”

        Haynes has owned the Rangers in his career. Tuesday's win made him 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last six starts against them. On Tuesday, he went 7 1/3innings, allowing two runs on seven hits.

        “It's nice to go out and pitch well against a lineup like that,” Haynes said.

        The Reds kept their one-game lead over the Cardinals, who beat the Mariners 7-4.

LaRue is tagged out by Kenny Rogers after the Rangers pitcher fielded LaRue's bunt in the fourth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Texas left-hander Kenny Rogers, who came in 7-3 with a 3.12 ERA, gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Dunn in the first inning, a rifle shot to left-center. It was Dunn's 12th homer of the year but his first since May 30.

        “When he (Rogers) hits his spots, he's dominant,” said Dunn. “You've got to wait and hope he makes a mistake.”

        Branyan made it 3-0 in the second with his second home run as a Red.

        The Reds broke it open in the fourth, thanks to a Rangers mistake.

        Dunn led off with a ground-rule double to right, Austin Kearns followed with a walk, and Aaron Boone tried to bunt them over to second and third. Rogers fielded the bunt and threw wildly down the first-base line. Dunn scored, while Kearns ended up at third and Boone at second.

        After Branyan popped out, Jason LaRue got Kearns home with a groundout that made it 5-0.

Danny Graves reacts after striking out Mike Young to end the game. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        That was it for Rogers, who went four innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits.

        Kearns' RBI single in the fifth made it 6-0.

        Dunn hit another homer in the seventh, giving him his second career two-home run game.

        Reds reliever Scott Williamson made it a little scary in the ninth. He walked the first two batters on eight pitches, then gave up a hit to load the bases. Ludwick got two runs in with a single.

        An out later, the Reds had to bring on closer Danny Graves to finish it. Graves got pinch hitter Ivan Rodriguez to fly out, scoring another run, and struck out Mike Lamb for his 20th save.

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