Fowler, Molina carry Cardinals past Reds
CINCINNATI -- Dexter Fowler doubled twice and drove in two runs, and Yadier Molina also had two RBIs, helping the St. Louis Cardinals complete a three-game sweep with an 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.
St. Louis (80-72) trails the first-place Chicago Cubs by 4 1/2 games in the National League Central. The Cubs opened a four-game series at second-place Milwaukee later Thursday night.
The Cardinals trailed the Rockies by two games for the second NL wild card pending Colorado's late result Thursday night at San Diego.
Right-hander Carlos Martinez (12-11) got the win on his 26th birthday. He allowed four runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings with a walk and six strikeouts.
Scott Schebler homered twice for Cincinnati (66-87), which has lost three straight since sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend.
It was a one-run game in the seventh when Molina doubled to center and Jose Martinez scored from first. Molina ultimately came home on a groundout to give the Cardinals a 6-3 lead.
Schebler hit a solo home run to right in the bottom of the seventh inning. The homer was estimated at 432 feet, but the Reds couldn't complete the comeback against the Cardinals' bullpen.
Tyler Lyons pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Zach Duke allowed two hits in the ninth inning, including Schebler's 29th homer.
Fowler continued his hot hitting with a two-out double in the first inning, then scored on Martinez's single that put St. Louis ahead 1-0.
Cincinnati tied the score 1-1 in the second when Jesse Winker doubled and later scored from third on a wild pitch.
Fowler doubled in two more runs off Reds starter Homer Bailey in the third to put the Cardinals ahead 3-1. Molina's sacrifice fly made it 4-1, and gave him a career-high 81 RBIs on the season.
Cincinnati cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth when Phillip Ervin hit a laser into the first row in left field for a two-run home run, his third homer of the season.
Bailey allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings.
NOTES: The Cincinnati Reds announced they will extend netting to the end of each dugout at Great American Ball Park by Opening Day 2018, in response to a child being seriously injured by a foul ball at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. ... Cardinals INF Breyvic Valera was recalled from Triple-A Memphis for his second stint with the club this season. ... Reds RF Scott Schebler batted leadoff for the first time this season and the seventh time in his career. He recorded his third career multi-home run game, his second of the season.