CINCINNATI — Brady Singer and Will Benson did all they could to send the Reds racing toward Bristol Motor Speedway in winning fashion.

In a game that took two hours, 16 minutes, Singer (9-8) threw six scoreless innings, holding the Atlanta Braves to four hits while striking out a season-high 10 batters and walking one in a 3-2 win Friday afternoon at a sunsplashed Great American Ball Park.

Singer threw 97 pitches and recorded consecutive wins for the first time since opening the season 4-0. In his last two starts, Singer has allowed just one run and seven hits over 13 1/3 innings, striking out 18 and walking just two.

Will Benson provided the offensive spark, singling off Atlanta starter Bryce Elder (4-8) to open the sixth. After stealing second, he scored on Matt McLain’s two-out single to center to put Cincinnati up, 1-0. Benson’s ninth homer of the season, a two-run opposite field shot to left off reliever Dylan Dodd in the seventh, provided insurance.

Scott Barlow pitched a scoreless seventh, Tony Santillan pitched the eighth and Emilio Pagán pitched the ninth for his 23rd save in 26 chances.

In a bizarre moment, Elly De La Cruz struck out to end the eighth, with his bat coming out of his hands. The bat got caught in the protective netting about 20 feet above the Braves dugout, where it remained for the rest of the game.

The two teams finish their three-game series Saturday night in the much-anticipated MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.