Reds 6, Cardinals 5 (10)
Joey Votto delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Cincinnati Reds took advantage of the St. Louis Cardinals’ latest bullpen implosion with a come-from-behind 6-5 victory Friday night.
Ramon Hernandez led off the inning with a double to right-center field off Jason Motte (1-1) but was erased on a ground ball by Chris Heisey. After a two-out walk to Edgar Renteria, Votto drilled a 2-2 fastball into right field to easily score Heisey from second.
Francisco Cordero (3-1) pitched the 10th for Cincinnati (21-17), which moved within one-half game of St. Louis (22-17) for the top spot in the National League Central.
Matt Holliday had three hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals, who are 8-0-1 in their last nine series.
St. Louis starter Kyle Lohse cruised through five innings before he yielded two runs in the sixth and handed over a 5-2 lead to the bullpen in the seventh.
But Miguel Batista yielded two runs before Fernando Salas retired two hitters with the bases loaded to end that threat. However, Eduardo Sanchez blew his first save in five chances and the Cardinals’ ninth in 21 opportunities. He walked Renteria to lead off the ninth, and after a wild pitch and groundout, Renteria scored on a soft single to center by Brandon Phillips.
The bullpen ruined another fine start by Lohse, who had pitched a major league-best 22 consecutive scoreless innings earlier in the season and entered the game leading NL starters in baserunnes per nine innings pitched (7.91).
Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo departed after six innings. He allowed four runs – three earned – and six hits.