ST. LOUIS (AP) - Michael Wacha pitched seven strong innings and Yadier Molina delivered a bases-clearing double to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
With the score 1-1, Matt Holliday led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right field. He went to third on a one-out double by Jhonny Peralta that landed just in front of left fielder Marlon Byrd and bounced past him.
After Jon Jay was intentionally walked, Molina lined the first pitch from starter Johnny Cueto down the left-field line that scored three.
Joey Votto gave Cincinnati a first-inning lead with his fourth homer, his third against St. Louis.
Matt Carpenter tied the game in the bottom of the inning after doubling, going to third on a groundout and scoring when he somersaulted over catcher Brayan Pena on Holliday's fly to short center.
After that inning, neither team advanced a runner past first base until the seventh.
The Reds also threatened in the seventh when Zack Cozart hit a slow roller toward third for an infield single and advanced to second when Wacha's throw sailed past first base. Cozart went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cueto but was stranded when Holliday caught Billy Hamilton's foul pop.
Wacha (2-0) scattered five hits to beat Cueto (0-2) and the Reds for the second time in the past week. Cueto gave up four runs on six hits over seven innings.
RED'S NIGHT
To mark the 70th anniversary of his major league debut, Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst was honored before the game. He batted third, tripled and scored in a 3-2 loss at Wrigley Field and went on to hit .289 in a 19-year career. Schoendienst, 92, remains a special assistant with St. Louis. "With Mr. (Stan) Musial no longer with us, Red's taken that banner for what a Cardinal looks like," manager Mike Matheny said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: C Devin Mesoraco (left hip) returned to the club after missing the team's series in Chicago but was not in the starting lineup. Mesoraco, 2 for 21 for the season, has not played since Sunday and is not likely to return behind the plate this weekend. C Tucker Barnhart was called up Friday and could back up Pena.
Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia, trying to come back from last year's left shoulder surgery, faced minor-league hitters at extended spring training in Jupiter, Florida. He remains weeks away from a possible return, general manager John Mozeliak said.
UP NEXT
Reds RHP Homer Bailey is scheduled to make his 2015 debut when he opposes RHP Carlos Martinez Saturday afternoon. Bailey underwent surgery last September to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm.
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