CINCINNATI (AP) – Brandon Phillips hit his first home run in August, Mike Leake pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-2 on Saturday to strengthen their hold on the top spot in the NL Central.

Phillips and Ryan Ludwick had three hits apiece and Jay Bruce added a two-run homer as Cincinnati regained a seven-game lead over second-place St. Louis, which rallied to win the series opener 8-5 on Friday night.

Leake (6-8) allowed at least one hit in every inning except one, but kept the Cardinals mostly at bay. Leake, who also had two hits, lasted 6 2-3 innings, allowing 10 hits and two runs.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson staked his claim to the starting job in Seattle on Friday night, throwing for 185 yards and two touchdowns while leading the Seahawks to a 44-14 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wilson has been competing for the job with Matt Flynn, who was held out of the game with a sore elbow, and he got a lot of help from the rest of the Seahawks.

Earl Thomas intercepted Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown, and Golden Tate returned a punt 92 yards for another score.

The Seahawks (No. 22 in the AP Pro 32) are unbeaten in the preseason. Kansas City (No. 18) has dropped two straight after beating Arizona.

Class 3-A:

• Atlantic 48, Clarinda 7
• ADM, Adel 38, Dallas Center-Grimes 20
• Glenwood 49, Red Oak 6
• Creston 39, Chariton 7
• Harlan 21, Denison-Schleswig 0
• Kuemper Catholic 27, Carroll 21
• Perry 29, Greene County 7

Class 2-A:

• IKM/Manning 24, OA-BCIG 19
• Shenandoah 10, East Mills 7

Class 1-A:

• St. Albert 41, Griswold 7
• Clarke, Osceola 33, West Central Valley 26
• Logan-Magnolia 55, Missouri Valley 7
• Mount Ayr 48, Nodaway Valley 24
• Tri-Center 53, A-H-S-T 14

Class A:

• Audubon 32, Riverside 7
• Central Decatur 44, Bedford 29
• Des Moines Christian 21, Madrid 14
• Logan-Magnolia 55 Missouri Valley 7
• Maple Valley 49 West Monona 6
• Martensdale-St. Mary’s 47,  Southeast Warren 12
• Panorama 46, Guthrie Center 6
• Southeast Webster-Grand 16, Woodward Academy 13
• Treynor 34, Underwood 12
• Tri-Center 53, AHST 14
• Van Meter 39, Earlham 21
• Woodury Central 62 Westwood, Sloan 8
• Woodward-Granger 61, Ogden 14

8-Man:

• Adair-Casey 49, Colo-Nesco 14
• CAM 74, River Valley 42
• Charter Oak-Ute 44, Whiting 20
• Exira/EHK 70, Boyer Valley 14
• Glidden-Ralston 62, Heartland Christian 6
• Murray 44, Mormon Trail 0
• Northeast Hamilton 44, Ankeny Christian Academy 8
• Fremont-Mills 54, Corning 12
• Lenox 34, Essex/South Page 13
• Lamoni 44, Grandview Park Baptist 6
• Sidney 50, Nishnabotna 8
• Villisca 39, Stanton 36
• Woodbine 64, West Harrison 20
• Coon Rapids-Bayard 32, Ar-We-Va 19