Reds 3, Cardinals 2
CINCINNATI -- Jay Bruce and Marlon Byrd each doubled in runs during a three-run first inning, and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani recorded a career-high nine strikeouts, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.
Third baseman Matt Carpenter hit a two-run home run for St. Louis (67-39), which dropped its third straight to the Reds.
After tossing seven shutout innings against the Cardinals last week in St. Louis, DeSclafani (7-7) was nearly as dominant against them Tuesday, allowing two runs and seven hits with no walks and the nine strikeouts.
Aroldis Chapman recorded his 23rd save for Cincinnati (48-56), and 56th consecutive save at Great American Ball Park.
John Lackey (9-7) allowed more earned runs in the first inning Tuesday night than in any start since June 8.
But he found his rhythm in the middle innings, retiring the final 14 batters he faced, finishing with three runs allowed in six innings. But, his teammates couldn't complete the rally.
Lackey endured a three-run, 30-pitch first inning.
Just when it appeared a double-play would help Lackey escape the initial jam, Bruce laced a two-out, RBI double down the left field line.
Byrd followed with a double high off the right-center-field wall to drive in Bruce, making the score 2-0.
After walking catcher Brayan Pena with his 25th pitch of the inning, Lackey was visited at the mound by pitching coach Derek Lilliquist. However, shortstop Eugenio Suarez followed with an RBI single, putting the Reds ahead 3-0.
St. Louis broke through against DeSclafani in the third when center fielder Randal Grichuk tripled and scored on Carpenter's 14th home run, cutting the margin to 3-2.
NOTES: Cincinnati reinstated LHP Manny Parra (left elbow strain) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned OF Kyle Waldrop to Triple-A Louisville. ... Cardinals RF Jason Heyward batted third, making him the first Cardinal to start in eight different spots in the lineup since Colby Rasmus in 2010. ... The Reds shut out the Cardinals in their last two games before Tuesday, the first time they blanked St. Louis in two straight games since a doubleheader sweep in 1937. ... The Reds-Nationals game postponed on July 8 will be made up Sept. 28 at Nationals Park. Three makeup games leave Cincinnati with just three off days the remainder of the season.