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 Miller pitched seven scoreless innings and Matt Carpenter broke a
scoreless tie with a two-run single in the seventh, lifting St.
Louis to a 5-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a
four-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Miller (9-9) mowed through the Reds batting order, giving up just
three hits with no walks and four strikeouts over his 81 pitches and
retiring nine straight in one stretch. "He looks like a different
guy right now," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. "It's about
using his other pitches. He was using breaking balls early in the
count, behind in the count. He was attacking the bottom of the zone.
It's perfect timing."
The right-hander's resurgence comes with the Cardinals (80-64)
leading second-place Pittsburgh by 4.5 games in the National League
Central.
"My mechanics are smoother," said Miller, who recorded his 12th
quality start and sixth scoreless appearance. "I've never thrown
this many curve balls before. I'm using it more often. I'm building
confidence with that pitch. The more I throw it, the more I get a
feel for it."
 First baseman Matt Adams sealed the victory with a three-run home
run in the ninth off Logan Ondrusek.
Reds right hander David Holmberg pitched a career-high 5 2/3
scoreless innings allowing four hits with two walks and five
strikeouts in emergency relief on Monday night after starter Dylan
Axelrod left with an oblique strain after throwing only seven
pitches and recording one out in the first inning.
"That's the reason we called him up for September, so he could have
a chance at those types of opportunities," said Reds manager Bryan
Price. "He did a good job in a tough spot -- come in, warm up and go
up against a competitive team."
After managing just four hits off Holmberg, the Cardinals got a
pinch-hit double by Randal Grichuk and an infield hit from second
baseman Kolten Wong off Manny Parra to begin the seventh.
With one out, Carpenter's broken-bat single to right drove home both
Grichuk and Wong to put St. Louis ahead 2-0. It was Carpenter's
team-leading 149th hit.
Grichuk went 2-for-2 with a double for his second career multi-hit
game.
Parra (0-3) allowed two runs and three hits with a walk in 1/3 of an
inning.
Second baseman Brandon Phillips collected two of Cincinnati's three
hits on Monday, while extending his career-long errorless streak to
100 games.
Holmberg, who had a 15.63 ERA in three appearances including two
starts this season, warmed up quickly and retired eight of the first
nine batters he faced.
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"I knew I was the long guy, but they sprung that on me kind of
early," said Holmberg. "I tried to get a couple of quick throws in
the bullpen ... It was definitely a confidence-builder. I was happy
to get the opportunity and save some innings for the bullpen."
Holmberg ran into trouble in the fourth when a hit and two walks
loaded the bases with one out. But he struck out catcher Yadier
Molina and got right fielder Oscar Taveras to pop out to third
ending the inning.
"Those usually come back to bite you," said Matheny of the missed
opportunity in the fourth.
But clutch hits by Carpenter and Adams provided all the offense for
St. Louis. Miller and relievers Pat Neshek and Sam Freeman combined
to face one batter over the minimum.
"When our pitchers are out there doing their thing, it's nice to get
that big knock," said Adams. "Everything's clicking right now with
our offense."
NOTES: St. Louis made its last round of September call-ups on
Monday, purchasing the contracts of RHP Sam Tuivailala and OF Tommy
Pham from Triple-A Memphis, and recalling INF Greg Garcia from
Triple-A. "They're going to get a taste of what a pennant chase is
all about, and that's invaluable," manager Mike Matheny said. "Them
contributing is the first priority." ... The Cardinals' roster
stands at 36, with C Audry Perez and OF Rafael Ortega designated for
assignment on Monday. ... Cardinals LF Matt Holliday returned to the
lineup on Monday after missing Sunday's game because of a sore back.
He snapped an 0-for-10 streak with a sixth-inning single. ... St.
Louis has won six straight games against the Reds to improve to 10-3
this season against them.
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reserved.]
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