Reds 9, Cardinals 5
Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in three runs to back a solid effort by Mike Leake as host Cincinnati cooled off St. Louis.
Leake (11-11) gave up three runs in six-plus innings while striking out six to easily outduel Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha. Brandon Phillips and Chris Heisey both registered two RBIs while Zack Cozart singled in a run and tripled as the Reds snapped a six-game slide versus St. Louis despite being outhit 14-12.
Making his second start since returning from a shoulder injury, Wacha (5-6) was pounded for six runs - five earned - and six hits in four innings. Jon Jay was one of five players to record a hit and an RBI for the Cardinals, who lost for just the second time in 11 games but maintained their 4 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh in the National League Central.
Wacha issued a walk to leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton in the first inning and Mesoraco made it 2-0 with a blast over the wall in left-center field. Yadier Molina's sacrifice fly in the fourth halved the Cardinals' deficit, but Leake restored the two-run lead when he followed Cozart's two-out triple in the bottom half with an RBI double.
Phillips' two-run double highlighted a four-run fifth that made it 7-1 before Leake was chased during a three-run rally by St. Louis in the seventh. Heisey's two-run single in the eighth gave the Reds their best scoring output since Aug. 17 and Aroldis Chapman notched a one-out save, his 31st.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Wacha is 0-6 with a 4.05 ERA on the road, compared to 5-0 with a 2.31 mark at home. ... Cardinals RHP Justin Masterson, removed from the rotation after posting a 7.62 ERA in six starts after being acquired from Cleveland, walked two batters in one-third of an inning in relief. ... Reds 1B Brayan Pena notched a single and three walks while scoring twice.