Bailey lasted just 2 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on four hits with three walks and no strikeouts as the Reds dropped the series to the Red Sox and starting pitcher Josh Beckett.

The Reds barely threatened to score against Beckett (7-4), who pitched seven shutout inning, scattering six hits while notching six strikeouts with two free passes.

Cincinnati ended both the first and second innings with runners stranded on first and second. Jolbert Cabrera, starting at shortstop for the slumping Paul Janish, went 2-for-3, and Joey Votto notched three hits, but the Reds' offense never threatened to score.

Jacoby Ellsbury singled to lead off the first and stole second and third base safely before Dustin Pedroia drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right.

Bailey (0-3) walked Jason Varitek with one out in the second before Coco Crisp hit his second home run in as many games for a 3-0 Boston lead. Bailey gave up his second homer to Ellsbury in the next inning and his third to J.D. Drew two batters later.

Bailey walked the next batter he faced and was immediately taken out.

Jeremy Affeldt got the Reds out of the inning and pitched a solid fourth before allowing five consecutive Red Sox to reach base in the fifth, when Cincinnati native Kevin Youkilis hit an RBI single and Crisp plated two more with a single to left.

The Red Sox hit their season-high-tying fourth home run of the game when Pedroia went deep off Gary Majewski in the sixth. It was Majewski's first appearance since returning from the bereavement list Saturday.