ST. LOUIS (AP) — Yadier Molina hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning and rookie reliever Jordan Hicks got Scooter Gennett to ground into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 Saturday.
The Cardinals have won seven of eight, including six against the Reds. The Reds dropped their fourth straight, and second under interim manager Jim Riggleman, and fell to 3-17 this season.
St. Louis has won 10 in a row from the Reds dating to last season, matching its longest streak against them since 1949, when the Cardinals won 11 straight.
Hicks (1-0) recorded the final seven outs. Jared Hughes (0-2) gave up Molina's sixth homer, a solo drive.
Cincinnati scored three times in the seventh to tie it. The Reds strung together four singles and a walk, with Gennett's two-run hit making it 3-all. Hicks used one pitch to get Cliff Pennington to fly out, ending the inning with runners at the corners.
Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez pitched six scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out seven. He was pulled after 91 pitches and exited with an 18-inning scoreless streak, leaving with a 1.42 ERA.
Home runs by Paul DeJong and Dexter Fowler helped the Cardinals build a 3-0 lead through six.
Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, striking four and walking two.
DeJong hit his sixth home run in the second. Fowler's third homer opened the sixth for the Cardinals.
