Reds 1, Cardinals 0
ST. LOUIS -- For the Cincinnati Reds, it was a rare series win under the Gateway Arch.
For the St. Louis Cardinals, it was two losses in one.
Rookie right-hander Anthony DeSclafani tossed seven shutout innings Wednesday night as Cincinnati took a 1-0 verdict at Busch Stadium to accomplish its fourth series win in St. Louis since 2003.
The Reds supplied the only offense as right fielder Jay Bruce walloped a homer to start the second inning, his 17th home run of the year.
DeSclafani (6-7) gave up only three hits and three walks and had three strikeouts in his first career start against the Cardinals. J.J. Hoover pitched around a two-out double by third baseman Matt Carpenter in the eighth and closer Aroldis Chapman worked a clean ninth for his 21st save of the season.
Cardinals starter John Lackey (9-6) took the loss despite allowing only two hits and a run in eight innings, walking one and striking out eight.
In losing a home series for just the third time this year, St. Louis (64-37) saw its National League Central lead over Pittsburgh slip to 4 1/2 games. It also lost All-Star left fielder Matt Holliday to a strained right quad for the second time this year, an injury that could land him on the disabled list.
The Reds (45-54) finished their six-game road trip at 3-3.
The game got off to an ominous start for St. Louis as Holliday limped off the field in the bottom of the first inning with a strained right quad -- the second time he has suffered that injury in less than two months.
Holliday was trying to beat out a double play ball when he came up lame about two-thirds of the way to first. He was originally injured June 8 in Colorado, missing 31 games before returning July 17.
NOTES: St. Louis CF Randal Grichuk (groin) was back in the lineup after missing the last two games. Grichuk was injured during Sunday's 3-2 loss to Atlanta while running the bases. ... Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto reached base four times Tuesday night, marking the 15th straight game he has gotten on base at least twice. That extended his club record once held by Pete Rose and three others. ... Cardinals RHP Jordan Walden (right biceps) moved to Triple-A Memphis to continue his rehab assignment. Barring a setback, Walden could be back with St. Louis within a week.