Reds 1, Cardinals 0
Reds 1, Cardinals 0: Homer Bailey threw seven innings of two-hit ball and Todd Frazier knocked in the only run with a double in the seventh inning as host Cincinnati beat St. Louis for the second consecutive game.
Bailey (10-10) struck out eight and walked one to win his fifth straight decision, allowing only a pair of singles to Matt Carpenter. Manny Parra worked a scoreless eighth and Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his 34th save as the Reds remained 3 1/2 games behind National League Central leader Pittsburgh and pulled within 1 1/2 games of St. Louis for the first wild card.
Speedster Billy Hamilton made his major-league debut in the seventh inning, pinch-running for Ryan Ludwick after a leadoff single. Hamilton, who stole 333 bases in the minors the past three seasons, promptly stole second against catcher Yadier Molina and scored on Frazier's double to left off Seth Maness (5-2).
The Cardinals had the first two men on in the first, but Bailey struck out Matt Holliday and induced a double-play grounder from Allen Craig. St. Louis didn't threaten much the rest of the way, as Bailey retired the final 14 batters he faced and the Cardinals didn't advance a runner past first after the third inning.
St. Louis rookie Michael Wacha matched Bailey for six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks and striking out three.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Carpenter has 53 multi-hit games, tied with Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout and Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen for the most in the majors. … Reds SS Zack Cozart singled in the second to extend his hitting streak to eight games. … Bailey has recorded 14 1/3 scoreless innings over his past two starts, both against St. Louis.