The St. Louis Cardinals scored six runs in the ninth inning, then held off a furious Cincinnati rally to beat the Reds 10-9 Thursday and take the five-game series.
The Reds led 5-4 with two outs in the ninth when Cincinnati center fielder Dane Myers dropped a fly ball, allowing two St. Louis runs to score. The Cardinals then added four more runs to take a 10-5 lead.
Cincinnati answered with four runs in the bottom of the ninth. Eugenio Suárez drove in a run, Sal Stewart followed with a two-run single and a bases-loaded walk brought the Reds within one. But Matt McLain lined out with the bases loaded to end the game.
McLain had earlier put Cincinnati ahead with his second career grand slam during a five-run sixth inning.
St. Louis took an early 4-0 lead behind Jordan Walker, who hit a three-run homer and drove in another run. The homer was Walker’s 26th of the season.
Peter Strzelecki earned the win with two scoreless innings, while Riley O’Brien survived the ninth-inning rally to earn the save.
Suárez also reached a career milestone, driving in the 1,000th run of his career.
The Cardinals improved to 66-63 and moved to 2½ games behind the final National League wild-card spot. Cincinnati dropped to 61-67, seven games out of the wild-card race.
Up Next
Cardinals: St. Louis kicks off a weekend series at Philadelphia on Friday. LHP Jesús Luzardo (11-5, 3.23 ERA) takes the mound for the Phillies. The Cardinals have not announced their starter. First pitch is set for 5:40 with pregame coverage by Ameran Total Access beginning at 4:45.
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