Cardinals 3, Reds 0
CINCINNATI -- Michael Wacha pitched seven shutout innings for the second straight start and second baseman Kolten Wong delivered a two-run single in the fifth, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game series on a wet Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
The start of the game was delayed one hour and eight minutes by rain.
Wacha (13-4) allowed four hits and two walks and had six strikeouts. He has given up one run or fewer in six of his eight career starts against the Reds.
St. Louis (69-39) avoided what would have been its second consecutive series loss to the Reds, which hasn't happened since 2011.
Cincinnati (48-58) was held scoreless for the final 18 innings of the series, including the last nine in Wednesday night's 13-inning loss.
The rain remained steady through most of the game, requiring the grounds crew to regularly apply drying compound to the mound and the infield.
The weather didn't deter Wacha, who was dominant for a second consecutive outing after allowing eight earned runs in his previous two starts.
Cardinals catcher Tony Cruz, inserted into the lineup to give Yadier Molina a rest, delivered a RBI single in the fourth off Reds rookie right-hander Michael Lorenzen, putting St. Louis ahead 1-0.
Wong lined a single to center in the fifth, driving in two more runs and making the score 3-0 as the rain persisted.
Lorenzen (3-7) allowed three earned runs with four hits and four walks in five innings. It was the fifth start in his past six in which Lorenzen has walked three or more batters.
Cincinnati brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth and ninth.
Reds third baseman Todd Frazier made a bid to tie the score when he flied out to the warning track in center against the Jonathan Broxton in the eighth.
In the ninth, Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal struck out pinch-hitter Brayan Pena and second baseman Brandon Phillips to finish off his 32nd save of the season.
NOTES: Cardinals C Yadier Molina and SS Jhonny Peralta were given the day off on Thursday, largely because of playing 13 innings the night before and having a day game after a night game. ... Cincinnati has had 19 rain delays this season, including 13 at home, totaling 24 hours and 40 minutes with three postponements and one suspension. ... With CF Randal Grichuk's 20th double in Wednesday night's game, he became the fifth Cardinals batter this season with that many. ... The Reds haven't won consecutive series against St. Louis since 2011.