Reds edge Cards
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ryan Hanigan's go-ahead RBI infield single highlighted a three-run bottom of the seventh inning and helped the Cincinnati Reds take down the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-3, in the opener of a three-game set.
Brandon Phillips registered his sixth three-hit game of the year and scored twice for the Reds, who have won four straight games. Todd Frazier belted a solo homer and scored twice.
"His focus and his determination were keen," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Phillips. "That's what hitting is all about and that's what playing baseball is all about."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Alfredo Simon (1-1) picked up the win after tossing two scoreless innings.
Adam Wainwright (7-9) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings for St. Louis, which had won six of its last eight coming in.
"I didn't make many mistakes tonight, really," said Wainwright. "I've had some tough losses this year. That's one of those head scratchers where you just don't know how that happened. I had good enough stuff to win tonight."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Trailing 2-1 after six innings of play, the Reds went ahead after pushing across three runs in the seventh.
With the bases loaded and one away, Hanigan cued a slow roller off the end of the bat to first. Allen Craig ranged to his right to field the grounder, but threw the ball away at first, allowing Phillips and Jay Bruce to score, making it 3-2 in favor of the Reds.
Zack Cozart lifted a sacrifice fly to center two batters later to stretch the advantage to 4-2.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}St. Louis got within a run following Shane Robinson's RBI single in the eighth, but the Reds got the run back in the home half after Ryan Ludwick smacked an RBI triple to make it 5-3.
Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth to notch his 12th save of the season. He has fanned 74 batters in 40 1/3 innings pitched this season.
The Cardinals struck first with a run in the opening frame and another in the third.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Carlos Beltran worked a leadoff walk in the first, advanced to third two batters later following Yadier Molina's double and after David Freese walked, he scored when Skip Schumaker slapped a single to right, giving St. Louis a 1-0 lead.
Back-to-back singles by Rafael Furcal and Jon Jay put runners on the corners to begin the third. Furcal crossed the plate when Matt Holliday rolled into a fielder's choice, extending the margin to 2-0.
Cincinnati got on the board in the fifth following Frazier's opposite-field solo homer, which cut the deficit to 2-1.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Reds starter Mat Latos surrendered two runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. He hasn't lost a decision since April 18 -- 15 starts -- and is 7-0 during that span...Holliday extended his hitting streak to 12 games...Ludwick's triple was his first of the season...Frazier has 10 homers on the year, the most by a Reds rookie third baseman in franchise history.