Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Billy Butler went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and four RBI, and Zack Greinke resembled his 2009 form with a complete-game gem in the Royals' 7-3 decision over the Reds.
Greinke (2-8) had dropped his previous four starts but was masterful in earning just his second win of the season. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner allowed three runs on five hits and struck out a season- high 12 without giving up walk.
"My slider felt like it was working," Greinke said. "And it's always real nice to get some runs. It makes it a lot easier when you have a comfortable lead."
David Jesus had three hits -- including a homer -- two walks and four runs scored for Kansas City, which wound up splitting its six-game road trip by winning the rubber match of this three-game interleague set.
Sam LeCure (1-3) was charged with four runs on six hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings for the Reds, who had won three of four coming in.
Joey Votto hit a pair of solo homers in defeat.
Jose Guillen got the Royals on the board with a two-out, RBI single in the first inning, but the Reds scored two in the bottom half.
Orlando Cabrera led off with a single and advanced to third when Jason Kendall threw the ball into center field attempting to throw him out stealing second. Miguel Cairo produced a run with a groundout to short, and Votto followed with a homer for a 2-1 edge.
Kansas City took the lead for good in the fifth when Butler blasted a two-out, two-run long ball to center. DeJesus singled ahead of the homer.
The Reds used three pitchers in the seventh, and with runners on second and third with two outs, Butler took Enerio Del Rosario's outside pitch the other way to push the margin to 5-2.
"Our matchups today didn't match up today, especially on Billy Butler," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.
Chris Getz plated Wilson Betemit in the eighth with a fielder's choice to short, and DeJesus added a solo shot in ninth.
Greinke, who has left a game in line for the win five times previously this season, finished this one out, and yielding another solo homer to Votto in the ninth did little to take away from his first win since May 13.
It was Greinke's second complete game this season and 11th of his career. He threw 77 of his 105 pitches for strikes...The Reds sat both second baseman Brandon Phillips and third baseman Scott Rolen...Betemit and Scott Podsednik each had two hits for the Royals...Votto has four career multi-homer games...The Reds lost a series at home for the first time since dropping two of three to San Diego from April 23-25.
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