Yadier Molina has homered in consecutive contests for the Cardinals, who have dropped two in a row and four of six to cling to a two-game lead over the New York Mets for the second wild card. Instead of moving up, the Cardinals helped the Reds rally and end a four-game losing streak.
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St. Louis SS Greg Garcia has reached base seven times in the first two contests of the series (four hits, three walks).2. Moss made a flawless, one-hop throw to the plate and Yadier Molina tagged out the sliding Holt to end the inning.
The St. Louis Cardinals are relying on home runs in their quest to secure a sixth straight postseason appearance, with less-than-stellar results of late. Cozart’s line on the evening was 2-4 with 2 doubles, 1 RBI, 1 walk, and 1 run scored.
“I didn’t know I had (walked) that many until I came in here”, Straily said.
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton left Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of an at-bat in the third inning after tweaking his side.
Cardinals: Ex-Reds catcher Brayan Pena, limited to four games this season by left knee inflammation, was activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game.
Martinez struck out a career-high 13 batters through six innings in his last start on August 29 at Milwaukee. The Cardinals took a step back in a 3-2 defeat at Great American Ball Park Friday. Phillips followed with a double that ricocheted off third base.
Martinez (13-7) allowed three hits over six scoreless innings before the Reds reached him for three hits and two runs to knock him out of the game three batters into the seventh.
“There was a lot of movement, but you’ve got to be ready for any situation”, Rosario said through a translator. Veteran Joey Votto sat out the series opener with a stiff neck, but the 2010 NL MVP is considered day-to-day and could return to the lineup to face Saturday starter Jaime Garcia, against whom he is 16-for-42 with six extra-base hits in his career. But Martinez got Ramon Cabrera to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Price said the Reds wanted to be aggressive there with two outs. In mixed fantasy leagues, this opportunity makes him an intriguing play.
Despite a 9-1 loss on Saturday that clinched a series victory for the Reds, the Cardinals have won 19 of the past 25 series between the clubs.
The Cardinals hope to have Mike Leake back with the ballclub Sunday.
He is arguably the fastest player in baseball and a threat to steal and turn a walk or single into the equivalent of a triple every time he gets on base. Leake has been on the disabled list following a bout with shingles.
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ANGELS 10, MARINERS 3 Kole Calhoun and Albert Pujols both homered twice, Mike Trout also went deep, and visiting Los Angeles beat Seattle.
