|
 "We don't need a superhero right now," he said.
The Cards had plenty of them Sunday, including Matt Adams and Tommy
Pham, who each hit two-run homers, and Michael Wacha, who pitched
six solid innings helping first-place St. Louis avoid a four-game
series sweep with a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great
American Ball Park.
"You hate to lose the last game, but if you would say at the
beginning you'd win three of four, we'd take it," said Reds manager
Bryan Price.
Six Cardinals batters collected at least one RBI on Sunday.
"We didn't need one guy to have all of them," Matheny said. "If we
kept playing the game right, the runs and big innings were going to
come. We had big at-bats all game. A lot of people contributing
again."
St. Louis (89-54) snapped a three-game losing streak, ensuring it
would at least maintain a 2 1/2-game lead over the Pittsburgh
Pirates in the National League Central.
Another streak of futility ended in the seventh inning when
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina threw out Billy Hamilton attempting
to steal second. The Reds center fielder had been 10-for-10 against
Molina in his career.
Wacha (16-5) pitched around four walks to allow two runs and three
hits in six innings to improve to 4-0 this season against the Reds.
"Michael set the tone for us today," said Matheny.
Wacha was aided by a tremendous defensive play in the sixth when
right fielder Jason Heyward who came up empty on similar attempts in
recent days, went high over the wall to rob Reds second baseman Ivan
De Jesus Jr. of a home run.
Reds starter Raisel Iglesias escaped first-inning trouble when he
got Molina to ground into a 3-6-1 double play. The initial out call
at first was overturned by replay.
Third baseman Todd Frazier put Cincinnati ahead 1-0 in the second
with a 419-foot solo homer to center on a 1-1 pitch from Wacha.
It was Frazier's 33rd homer this season and the 15th allowed by
Wacha.
"We played a good Cardinal team and took three out of four," said
Frazier. "We'll take that any day of the week. We helped a couple
teams. We made the race a little closer. It's hard to take four from
any team."
Wacha's command escaped him in the fourth when he walked two and hit
a batter to load the bases with one out. Catcher Tucker Barnhart's
sacrifice fly put the Reds up 2-0.
St. Louis scored twice in the fifth, once on third baseman Matt
Carpenter's RBI single to right that tied the score 2-2.
[to top of second column] |
Iglesias allowed two earned runs and five hits in five innings.
Pham's second homer of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth off
right-hander Sam LeCure, put the Cardinals ahead 4-2. It was Pham's
first homer since July 5.
LeCure (0-1) took the loss for Cincinnati.
"To get a start and help the team out was huge," said Pham, who got
his first start since striking out four times on Sept. 2 against
Scherzer. "I don't mind
St. Louis had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh but
didn't score before they piled on during a five-run eighth.
Adams iced the victory with his first home run since May 20, a
423-foot, two-run blast off Josh Smith, making the score 9-2.
Adams isn't quite ready to play the field after missing 91 games
with a quad injury, but there's nothing wrong with his swing.
"I told him, 'Don't think for a minute I won't be dreaming about
more homers like that'," Matheny said.
NOTES: 3B Todd Frazier is the third Reds third baseman to hit 30 or
more home runs in a season, joining Tony Perez (1967, 1970) and
Deron Johnson (1965). ... Cardinals INF Brandon Moss, mired in an
0-for-23 slump, was given a day off Sunday. ... St. Louis manager
Mike Matheny is hoping to have OF Matt Holliday back during the
upcoming series in Milwaukee. He's at 70-80 percent, according to
manager Mike Matheny. ... Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright threw a
bullpen as recently as Friday but still must pass mobility tests
before being activated. ... Reds 2B Brandon Phillips was given a day
off on Sunday after batting .317 since the All-Star break. ... Reds
1B Joey Votto reached base in 32 straight games, tying a season
high.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
