|
Matthew Liberatore (3-5) struck out three over
1 1/3 innings to earn the win.
Nolan Arenado had three hits and scored twice for the Cardinals,
who won for the fourth time in five games.
The Cardinals (62-79), in the rare role of spoiler, scored three
runs in the first and three more in the third off Cincinnati
starter Andrew Abbott (8-5). All six runs came home thanks to
rallies that started with two outs and no runners on base.
Hunter Renfroe hit his 20th homer, his first with the Reds
(73-70), who finished 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position
and stranded 12 runners. Cincinnati took its second consecutive
defeat and lost ground in the race for the third and final
National League wild card.
In the first, St. Louis' Paul Goldschmidt worked a two-out walk
before Nolan Arenado reached on an infield single to third.
Contreras then crushed a Abbott pitch 440 feet halfway up the
upper deck in left for a 3-0 St. Louis lead. It was his 18th
homer of the season.
The Cardinals doubled their lead two innings later when rookie
Luken Baker doubled in three runs with a liner just inside the
third base bag and down the left field line.
It was the third time in four starts Abbott didn't complete the
fifth inning. The rookie left-hander -- who was 4-0 with a 1.21
ERA through his first six major league starts -- allowed six
runs on four hits in four innings. He walked three and struck
out three.
Down 6-0, the Reds began chipping away with three in the third
against St. Louis left-handed starter Drew Rom, who played his
high school baseball across the river in Fort Thomas, Ky.
Renfroe belted a two-run homer, his first since joining the Reds
on Aug. 31 off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. One out
later, Nick Senzel clubbed a solo shot to left-center, his 11th
of the year, to cut the deficit to 6-3.
The Reds inched closer in the fourth when Marte came home as
part of a double steal with Spencer Steer. Rom allowed four runs
on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked two without fanning a
batter.
--Field Level Media
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
