The Cardinals turned Cincinnati's defensive mistakes into victory, scoring twice in the eighth inning on errors to defeat the Reds 5-3 at Busch Stadium. St. Louis erased a 2-0 deficit with a three-run fifth inning, then capitalized on crucial miscues to secure the win.
Matt McLain carried Cincinnati's offense with two home runs, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. McLain homered to center in the third inning, then tied the game 3-3 with another blast to center in the seventh. Tyler Stephenson added three hits including a solo homer in the third, finishing 3-for-4.
The Cardinals seized control in the eighth inning through Cincinnati's defensive breakdowns. Fermín scored on a throwing error by pitcher Sam Moll during Victor Scott's fielder's choice, giving St. Louis a 4-3 lead. Velázquez then scored on a fielding error by shortstop McLain during Ivan Herrera's fielder's choice, extending the margin to 5-3.
Michael McGreevy anchored St. Louis with six innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits while striking out five. Sam Moll took the loss after failing to record an out in the eighth, allowing two runs on errors. Ryne Stanek earned the win with two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief, while Riley O'Brien secured his 17th save.
St. Louis extended its winning streak to three games and improved to 34-28. Cincinnati dropped its third straight game and fell to 31-32. Stanek is five games away from 500 career appearances.