CINCINNATI (AP) — Homer Bailey never knows how he’s going to feel when he takes the mound.

The right-hander had a tough one on Monday, the worst in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. Adrian Gonzalez hit the first of his three homers off Bailey, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled away to an 18-9 victory and a split of their four-game series with the Reds.

The NL West leaders enjoyed their biggest home run splurge in 10 years. They’ve won 10 of their last 12 games against Cincinnati.

Bailey gave up a season-high six runs and nine hits, leaving after 59 pitches. Chase Utley singled on Bailey’s first pitch of the game, and Corey Seager singled on the second pitch. Gonzalez homered on the first pitch, leaving him 11 for 25 career against the right-hander with six homers. The homer extended his hitting streak to a season-high 15 games.

“We’re seeing what we expected to see,” manager Bryan Price said of Bailey, who has made five starts. “Some days, he’s electric and sharp. Some days, there’s fatigue and achiness and you’re not going to have your grade-A stuff.”

Bailey gave up five runs in only three innings at Pittsburgh on Aug. 6, and then threw six scoreless innings at Milwaukee in his next start.

“It was like Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago,” Bailey said. “It’s not pain, just a dullness, and you can’t finish pitches.

“It’s a very strange thing. I may show up tomorrow and feel great and be like, ‘I wish I was pitching today.”’

The Dodgers hit seven homers for the first time since an 11-10 win over San Diego on Sept. 18, 2006.

Gonzalez had a solo shot in the fifth, when the Dodgers connected four times overall. His three-run shot in the seventh tied his career high for homers. He drove in another run with a groundout as the Dodgers scored 18 runs for the first time in 10 years.

The first baseman attributed it to Great American Ball Park’s dimensions.

“It’s tiny and the ball flies,” Gonzalez said. “Right field is short. I hit two fly balls that went out. I could have been 1 for 6 with a homer.”

The Dodgers needed the big game offensively. Left-hander Scott Kazmir lasted a season-low 2 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Joey Votto singled home a run off reliever Jesse Chavez (1-0), one of his four RBIs.

Kazmir said he’s been bothered lately by a stiff right side of his neck.

There were homer notes galore:

— Seager’s two-run shot gave him 22 homers, trying Glenn Wright’s club record for a shortstop from 1930. He tied his career high with four hits and extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

— The seven homers allowed by Reds pitchers tied the club record.

— Andrew Toles and Rob Segedin hit their first career homers back-to-back in the fifth, becoming the first Dodger duo to accomplish that one.

— The last time the Dodgers hit four homers in an inning was Sept. 28, 2006, against San Diego.

Bud Norris, who started on Friday and lasted 3 2/3 innings, pitched the eighth to help LA’s depleted bullpen. He threw 18 pitches, retired two batters, gave up two hits and a walk, and felt some tightness in his back.

Reds outfielder Tyler Holt pitched the ninth and retired the three batters he faced, throwing a knuckleball. He hadn’t pitched since Little League.

STATS

It was Gonzalez’s 21st career multi-homer game. He’s the third Dodger to hit three in a game this season, joining Yasmani Grandal and Seager. … It was the Dodgers’ biggest game offensively since a 19-11 win at Colorado in 2006. … The Reds also gave up seven homers at Colorado on May 31.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: RF Josh Reddick was scratched from the lineup because of a jammed middle finger on his right hand that bothered his throwing. He pinch hit and flied out.

Reds: SS Zack Cozart missed a fifth straight game with a sore left Achilles tendon. Manager Bryan Price said he’ll miss at least one more game.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: Ken Maeda (12-7) opens a home series against the Giants. He has won his last four decisions — in five starts — with a 3.45 ERA.

Reds: Dan Straily (9-6) starts the opener of a two-game series against Texas at Great American Ball Park. He’s 3-3 career against the Rangers in 10 games.

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