CINCINNATI — The Pittsburgh Pirates passed a couple of miserable milestones as they got closer to setting a record for losing.

Brandon Phillips and Drew Stubbs each homered Wednesday to help the Reds complete their first sweep of a four-game series in Cincinnati in more than 30 years, coming from behind for a 5-3 win over the Pirates.

‘‘It’s hard to sweep a team in four games,’’ Reds manager Dusty Baker said. ‘‘You don’t see that much.’’

The Reds swept Pittsburgh in four games at home for the first time since Aug. 14-17, 1975, and sent the Pirates to their seventh consecutive loss, one short of their season high. Pittsburgh is three losses from becoming the first major American professional franchise with 17 consecutive losing seasons.

Cincinnati’s last sweep of any four against Pittsburgh was July 2-5, 1992, the last year the Pirates finished with a winning record.

The loss also was Pittsburgh’s 11th straight on the road, leaving manager John Russell looking forward to getting home, even though the Pirates (53-79) open a three-game series against Central Division-leading St. Louis on Friday. Pittsburgh is 35-29 at PNC Park.

‘‘We’ll be all right,’’ Russell said. ‘‘We play good at home. Turn the page.’’

Reds starter Homer Bailey set a career high in strikeouts for the second straight start, fanning eight in 6 1-3 innings. Bailey (5-4) allowed three runs on seven hits.

‘‘I’ve got to credit our offense,’’ Bailey said. ‘‘I’m glad they had my back. The bullpen came in and did a good job, and any time your teammates play like that, you’ve got to give credit to them.’’

Arthur Rhodes and Nick Masset combined to retire five consecutive batters — four on strikeouts — before Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 30th save.

Garrett Jones and Brandon Moss homered for the Pirates but starter Zach Duke couldn’t hold a 3-2 sixth inning lead.

Reds’ boxscore

Wednesday’s Game

Reds 5, Pirates 3

San Francisco Cincinnati

ab r h bi ab r h bi

AMcCt cf 4 0 0 0 Stubbs cf 4 1 3 1

NWalkr 3b 4 0 0 0 Janish ss 4 1 0 0

DlwYn 2b 4 0 0 0 Votto 1b 2 2 1 0

GJones 1b 4 1 1 1 BPhllps 2b 4 1 3 3

Milledg lf 3 1 1 0 Gomes rf 4 0 0 0

Doumit c 4 0 2 1 Balentn rf 0 0 0 0

Moss rf 3 1 1 1 DMcDnld lf 4 0 2 1

Cedeno ss 4 0 0 0 ARosls 3b 3 0 1 0

Duke p 2 0 2 0 Rhodes p 0 0 0 0

RVazqz ph 1 0 0 0 Masset p 0 0 0 0

JChavz p 0 0 0 0 Barker ph 1 0 0 0

Hanrhn p 0 0 0 0 Corder p 0 0 0 0

AnLRc ph 1 0 1 0 CMiller c 3 0 0 0

HBaily p 2 0 0 0

Rolen 3b 1 0 0 0

Totals 34 3 8 3 Totals 32 5 10 5

Pittsburgh 010 011 000 — 3

Cincinnati 100 103 00x — 5

E—N.Walker (1). DP—Pittsburgh 1. LOB—Pittsburgh 7, Cincinnati 5. 2B—Milledge (6), Doumit 2 (13), Votto (22). HR—G.Jones (18), Moss (7), Stubbs (4), B.Phillips (19). CS—Stubbs (1).

IP H R ER BB SO

San Francisco

Duke L,10-13 6 9 5 3 1 4

J.Chavez 1 0 0 0 0 1

Hanrahan 1 1 0 0 1 1

Cincinnati

H.Bailey W,5-4 6 1-3 7 3 3 3 8

Rhodes H,21 1 0 0 0 0 2

Masset H,11 2-3 0 0 0 0 2

Cordero S,30-32 1 1 0 0 0 2

WP—Hanrahan. Balk—Duke. Umpires—Home, Angel Campos; First, Larry Vanover; Second, Rick Reed; Third, Sam Holbrook. T—2:38. A—11,541 (42,319).