September 12 – The St. Louis Cardinals beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 2–1 on Wednesday, thanks to Paul Goldschmidt’s game-winning RBI double in the eighth inning.
Nolan Arenado homered for the Cardinals (73-72).
Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn allowed one run on five hits in five innings in his first game back from the 15-day injured list. He struck out seven and walked one while reaching his 2,000th career innings.
Relievers Matthew Liberatore, Andrew Kittredge, JoJo Romero and Ryan Helsley took over the contest from there. Romero (7-2) got the win and Helsley earned his 44th save.
Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson allowed one run on three hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Buck Farmer (3-1) lost to the Reds (71-76), ending a three-game winning streak.
Williamson grounded into a double play to escape the threat in the first inning. Masyn Winn led off the inning with one out and moved to third on Goldschmidt’s single.
But Arenado got caught into a double play.
Cincinnati started the third inning with singles by Jake Fraley and Noelve Marte, but Lynn struck out the next three batters.
The Reds broke the winless tie in the fourth inning. Spencer Steele hit a double in the first, stole third base with two outs and scored on Santiago Espinal’s single.
Arenado hit a home run in the bottom of the inning, tying the game 1–1.
Marte led off the fifth inning, stealing second base on Luke Mele’s strikeout and moving to third on Jonathan India’s single. But Lynn struck out the next two batters.
The Cardinals were ahead 2–1 in the eighth inning. Michael Siani drove in a leadoff run with a single and stole second base.
With one out, Farmer hit pinch-hitter Alec Burleson with a pitch. Goldschmidt hit an RBI double over the left field wall, then Arenado was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Justin Wilson retired the next two batters, ending the game, but the lead remained.
–Visual-level media
