PITTSBURGH — Homer Bailey didn’t need to be on his game to hand the Pittsburgh Pirates another loss.

Joey Votto went 4 for 5 and scored three runs, Bailey allowed two runs in six innings and the Cincinnati Reds continued the Pirates’ losing ways with a 12-2 win Wednesday night.

‘‘You can tell (Bailey) didn’t have real good stuff when he was throwing more breaking balls and more changeups tonight than usual,’’ Reds manager Dusty Baker said. ‘‘His fastball velocity was a little down, but that’s going to happen sometimes. That’s part of the learning process; you’ve got to pitch when you don’t have real good stuff, and that’s what he did tonight.’’

Bailey was facing a team with the majors’ worst offense. The Pirates are 3-22 in their past 25, having lost five in a row. They have allowed 33 runs the past three games and are averaging only 2.5 runs in their past 12 contests.

‘‘This has been difficult for everybody,’’ said Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen, who had two hits and scored a run. ‘‘It’s kind of hard to keep a smile on your face when things like this happen. But the only thing you can do is just go out there and just shake it off and just get prepared for the next day. There’s nothing else you can do about it. There’s no point in moping; you’ve got to be here so you might as well do something to change it.’’

Since beating the Pirates at PNC Park Aug. 23, Bailey (6-5) is 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA — three of those victories coming against Pittsburgh. He allowed four hits and three walks Wednesday, meaning he has allowed only 12 baserunners and two runs in 13 innings.

‘‘Sometimes you’re going to have these games (when you’re not at your best) this late in the season,’’ Bailey said. ‘‘You’re not going to feel great every single time. But it was a good test for me. Now I know that despite not having my best stuff, I can go out there and compete.’’

Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen, Jay Bruce, Laynce Nix and Corky Miller each had two RBIs for the Reds, who have won seven of nine.

Votto had two doubles and two singles and is 7 for 9 during the series. He is hitting .458 in his past 13 games and is batting .314 with 22 home runs and 74 RBIs despite missing 31 games this season.

Reds’ boxscore

Wednesday’s Game

Reds 12, Pirates 2

Cincinnati Pittsburgh

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Stubbs cf 6 2 2 0 AMcCt cf 4 1 2 0

Janish ss 4 2 0 0 Milledg lf 4 0 0 0

Votto 1b 5 3 4 1 GJones 1b 2 1 0 1

BPhllps 2b 3 1 1 2 Doumit c 4 0 2 0

Sutton pr-2b 0 1 0 0 Moss rf 3 0 0 1

Rolen 3b 3 1 2 2 Cedeno ss 4 0 0 0

ARosls 3b 1 1 1 0 NWalkr 3b 2 0 1 0

Bruce rf 4 0 2 2 DBatst p 0 0 0 0

L.Nix lf 5 1 0 2 VVasqz p 0 0 0 0

CMiller c 4 0 1 2 R.Diaz ph 1 0 0 0

HBaily p 3 0 0 0 L.Cruz 2b 3 0 0 0

Barker ph 1 0 0 0 K.Hart p 2 0 0 0

Burton p 0 0 0 0 Dumtrt p 0 0 0 0

Viola p 0 0 0 0 AnLRc 3b 1 0 0 0

JFrncs ph 1 0 1 1

RRmrz p 0 0 0 0

Totals 40 12 14 12 Totals 30 2 5 2

Cincinnati 103 040 103 — 12

Pittsburgh 000 110 000 — 2

E—Cedeno (4). DP—Pittsburgh 1. LOB—Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 6. 2B—Votto 2 (31), A.McCutchen 2 (25). SB—Stubbs 2 (9). SF—Rolen, G.Jones, Moss.

IP H R ER BB SO

Cincinnati

H.Bailey W,6-5 6 4 2 2 3 0

Burton 1 1-3 0 0 0 0 2

Viola 2-3 1 0 0 0 0

R.Ramirez 1 0 0 0 0 1

Pittsburgh

K.Hart L,4-8 4 1-3 8 8 8 3 2

Dumatrait 2 1-3 3 1 1 1 1

D.Bautista 1 1-3 0 0 0 1 2

V.Vasquez 1 3 3 2 0 0

HBP—by V.Vasquez (B.Phillips). WP—H.Bailey, K.Hart. Umpires—Home, Bob Davidson; First, Todd Tichenor; Second, James Hoye; Third, Tim Tschida.

T—3:09. A—15,980 (38,362).