CINCINNATI (AP) — Harrison Bader and Dylan Carlson homered during a seven-run burst in the fourth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-6 on Sunday.
Nolan Arenado hit his 20th home run and tripled, and Tyler O'Neill also connected for the Cardinals.
Cincinnati starter Sonny Gray (2-6) was tagged for a career-high eight runs, allowing eight hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings.
“The fourth inning was more about myself," Gray said. "I walked the first guy and it continued from there. In that moment I need to stay out there. I put the guys in a bit of a hole but the support of my teammates were there. The fight was there.”
Joey Votto homered for the second straight day as the Reds finished 3-6 on their nine-game homestand while playing all but three innings without starting All-Star right fielder Nick Castellanos, who was hit by a pitch in the third inning of the first game on July 16.
The teams combined for 18 walks, two hit batters, two ejections and four wild pitches. At 4 hours, 4 minutes, it was Cincinnati’s longest nine-inning game of the season.
The Cardinals trailed 3-2 in the fourth before the first five batters reached base, including Bader’s three-run shot halfway up the lower deck in left-center field. Bader raised his right fist in triumph as he rounded second base.
Andrew Knizner followed with a double and Carlson hit a drive deep into the visitors’ bullpen.
“Everybody put together good at-bats," Bader said. "That’s all there is to it. The offense has the ability to click. Everybody plays their own game, but being able to wear a pitcher down is big. Everything clicked in that inning. It’s all about slowing the game down, putting together good at bats and passing the baton.”
Cardinals starter Johan Oviedo was in position for his first career win before Cincinnati loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, prompting bench coach Oliver Marmol to bring in Ryan Helsley (5-4), who got the final two outs.
Marmol was managing because Mike Shildt had been ejected in the third by umpire crew chief Ron Kulpa for arguing too long after the crew refused a request for a video review.
Oviedo finished 4 1-3 innings, allowing five hits, three runs and six walks with six strikeouts.
Cincinnati got a two-run double from Max Schrock to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 9-6, but no closer.
PITCH COUNT
Shildt now has been ejected nine times in his career, four this season and two in the last five days.
PARTING SHOT
St. Louis LHP Génesis Cabrera already had been lifted one batter into the eighth inning, but plate umpire Chad Fairchild ejected him after hearing some comments from the pitcher.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: C Yadier Molina’s availability was minute-to-minute as he received in-game treatment for the stiff neck that developed on Friday. He didn't play.
Reds: RHP Lucas Sims (right elbow) is scheduled make his first rehab appearance on Tuesday with Triple-A Louisville.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (7-6) on Tuesday will make his first career appearance at Progressive Field in Cleveland, boosting to 33 the number of ballparks in which he’s pitched regular-season games. Houston’s Joe Smith leads active players with 37 ballparks.
Reds: Visit the Cubs on Monday. LHP Wade Miley (8-4) is 2-1 with a 4.68 ERA in four career starts at Wrigley Field.
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