Devin Mesoraco homered and Homer Bailey worked seven solid innings as the Cincinnati Reds kept their fleeting hopes of a winning season alive with a 6-4 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Tuesday.

Jay Bruce chipped in a two-run single and Dave Sappelt drove in a run for the Reds (75-80), who need to win all their remaining games to secure a winning season. Cincinnati, which won the National League Central last season, has not posted back-to-back winning campaigns since 1999-2000.

The Reds jumped on Bud Norris in the second. Mesoraco’s second career homer - a two-run blast - was the second of five hits in the inning, including Sapppelt’s RBI single.

Norris (6-11) would not make it through the third after surrendering seven hits and issuing a pair of walks while recording only eight outs.

Bailey (9-7), who also went 3-for-3 at the plate, struck out five while setting a career high in wins. The 25-year-old righthander made one mistake, yielding a two-run homer to J.D. Martinez in the third, but settled down to retire 14 of the final 16 batters he faced.

Houston pulled within 5-4 on Chris Johnson’s homer in the eighth but Brandon Phillips hit a solo shot in the bottom half and Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 34th save.