Sept. 13—Brendan Donovan hit a two-run homer to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 6–1 on Thursday afternoon.
Masin Winn homered and scored twice for the Cardinals (74–72), who won two of three games in the series.
Cardinals starter Sonny Gray (13-9) allowed one run on two hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out nine.
It’s a big turnaround for Gray, who lost two starts against the Reds this season while allowing 12 runs (9 ERA) on 12 hits in 9 1/3 innings.
JoJo Romero earned his first save in the last four games.
Reds starter Jakob Junis allowed one run on three hits in five innings (71-77). He struck out three but did not load the bases. Reliever Carson Spears (5-6) lost the game.
Cincinnati outfielder Will Benson injured his left middle finger while trying to lay down a bunt in the sixth inning.
Winn broke the tie with a solo home run in the third inning, his 13th of the year.
Gray struck out the first 15 batters, but Cincinnati put together a brilliant sixth inning to tie the game at 1–1.
Jake Fraley singled and Santiago Espinal drove in four. After Benson was injured and pinch-hitter Amed Rosario struck out, Jonathan India had an RBI single.
Eli De La Cruz loaded the bases, but Gray retired the next two batters.
The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning against Spears. Winn hit a bunt single and Alec Burleson singled through left. After Nolan Arenado walked, Lars Nootbaar hit a sacrifice fly.
St. Louis took a 4–1 lead in the seventh inning. Thomas Saggese got his first major league hit, and Donovan followed with a home run.
In the eighth inning, the Cardinals took a 6–1 lead on Nootbaar’s double and Sarkis’s RBI single. Donovan and Michael Siani drew walks and then Winn was hit on an error to score.
–Visual-level media
