Reds lay the lumber on Cards, 12-1

[April 05, 2021]  Nick Castellanos and Tyler Naquin each hit three-run homers, and the Cincinnati Reds stayed hot at the plate with a 12-1 victory Sunday, to take two of three from the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

Tyler Stephenson added three hits with three runs and an RBI for the Reds, who broke things open via a six-run sixth inning to post back-to-back wins following an 11-6 season-opening loss to St. Louis.

The Reds scored 27 runs and recorded 30 hits, including six homers, in the series.

St. Louis starter Carlos Martinez retired the first 10 batters he faced before Castellanos tripled off the center-field wall in the fourth. Joey Votto followed with a sharp single to right that drove in Castellanos for a 1-0 Cincinnati lead.

In his Reds' debut, Jeff Hoffman sent down 12 of the first 13 Cardinals before Tyler O'Neill doubled to lead off the fifth. Yadier Molina then drove O'Neill in with a single.

But that was all St. Louis could get against Hoffman, who in his first start since 2019 for Colorado, yielded three hits while striking out six without a walk over five innings.

Castellanos put Hoffman in position to pick up the win when he clubbed his three-run homer off Martinez into the Reds' left-center field bullpen for a 4-1 lead in the fifth. All four runs Martinez allowed over his five innings were earned, to go with four hits and two walks while fanning four.

Cincinnati took complete control in the sixth. Rookie Jonathan India delivered an RBI single. And after Nick Senzel scored on a wild pitch, India scampered home on Tyler Stephenson's single.

St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Dylan Carlson (3) is out at first against Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Two batters later, Naquin delivered the big blow with his three-run blast to right field.

Alex Blandino's two-run double in the seventh further extended Cincinnati's advantage.

The Cardinals managed just five hits while striking out nine times against four Cincinnati pitchers.

--Field Level Media

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