Cards stun Reds with five runs in ninth
ST. LOUIS -- One out away from another defeat to a last-place team, the St. Louis Cardinals pulled off a stunning comeback.
Scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night, St. Louis beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 at Busch Stadium.
Yadier Molina was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded from Ross Ohlendorf, capping the amazing rally.
Molina started the inning with a leadoff single, but Tony Cingrani (2-4) retired the next two hitters. Tommy Pham then walked, and pinch hitter Kolten Wong was plunked by a pitch to fill the bases.
Matt Carpenter singled home two runs, and Stephen Piscotty lined a single to left to drive in a third run. After Matt Holliday drew a four-pitch walk, Ohlendorf relieved Cingrani.
Ohlendorf issued a game-tying walk to Brandon Moss on a 3-2 pitch, setting the stage for the walk-off hit by pitch.
Seth Maness (2-2) worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the win. The Cardinals (59-53) moved within a half-game of Miami for the second wild card spot in the National League pending the result of the Marlins' extra-inning game against the San Francisco Giants.
The Cardinals' ninth-inning comeback cost Cincinnati rookie starter Cody Reed his first big league win. Reed, who entered the game 0-6 with a 7.30 ERA, worked six shutout innings, allowing four hits and a walk while fanning four.
St. Louis' Michael Wacha went five innings, giving up six hits and four runs while issuing four walks and whiffing three.
Cincinnati (45-66) started the scoring with three runs in the top of the second, all with two outs. Zack Cozart laced a double over the head of left fielder Holliday for two runs, and Joey Votto tripled to right-center to cap the rally.
The Reds made it 4-0 in the third. Brandon Phillips led off with a double and came around on two grounders, the last by Eugenio Suarez.
St. Louis had plenty of early chances to score but went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Cardinals had men at second and third with two outs in the fourth, but Jedd Gyorko was rung up on a half-swing.
NOTES: St. Louis 2B Matt Carpenter was back in the lineup Monday night after sitting out Sunday's game as a precaution. Manager Mike Matheny lifted him Saturday night after five innings, feeling Carpenter's swing didn't look right. Carpenter returned Friday night after missing a month with a right oblique strain. ... Cincinnati RHP Alfredo Simon (right trapezius) started a rehab assignment Sunday night for Triple-A Louisville, pitching an inning and allowing a run on three hits with a strikeout. ... Reds RHP A.J. Morris (strained right shoulder) also pitched in that game, permitting three hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout.