St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Colby Rasmus finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored as St. Louis pounded Cincinnati, 12-4, in the opener of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals Show Offensive Fire Power In 12-4 Win Over Reds
Matt Holliday, Felipe Lopez, Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker each drove in a pair of runs for the Cardinals, who have won four of five thanks to season- highs in runs and hits.
Jaime Garcia (5-2) picked up the win after allowing seven hits and three runs -- two earned -- over six full frames. He also helped his cause with two hits and scored twice.
Jonny Gomes hit a two-run single, while Ramon Hernandez and Orlando Cabrera also knocked in a run apiece for the Reds, who have dropped two in a row after winning four in a row.
Bronson Arroyo (5-3) was shelled in the loss for 10 hits and seven runs, along with five walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Cabrera’s RBI single in the fourth put the Reds ahead 3-1, then the Cardinals’ bats awoke to the tune of 11 runs in their next three turns at the plate.
With runners on the corners and two outs in the home fourth, Ludwick singled in Garcia and took second on the throw. Albert Pujols was given a free pass, but Holliday's double scored a pair and put the Cards up 4-3.
In the fifth, Rasmus walked and advanced on a groundout, then came in on a Schumaker single. Garcia followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners, and Lopez ripped a two-run double for a 7-3 game.
Five more came home in the St. Louis sixth. David Freese doubled with one out and Rasmus scored him with a base hit. Rasmus went to second on a wild pitch then both Yadier Molina and Schumaker walked to load the bases and bring in Mike Lincoln for Arroyo.
Pinch-hitter Jon Jay made it 10-3 on his double to right, and after Lopez walked, Ludwick's sacrifice fly to left scored another. Pujols finished the burst with an RBI single before Holliday flied out.
Cincinnati's only answer was in the eighth, as Drew Stubbs tripled and scored on a Hernandez groundout. Mitchell Boggs turned in a scoreless ninth to close out the rout.
Gomes opened the scoring for the visitors in the first inning, bringing in Brandon Phillips and Scott Rolen with a base hit. Both men hit singles with two outs prior to the RBI.
Schumaker’s sacrifice fly put the Cards on the board in the second, then rain delayed the contest for one hour and one minute prior to the top of the fourth.
St. Louis has won six of 10 over Cincinnati this season...The Redbirds finished May with a 16-14 record, and the Redlegs went 18-11 in the just- completed month...Prior to the game, the Cardinals recalled outfielder Allen Craig from Triple-A Memphis and optioned pitcher Evan MacLane to Memphis.
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