MILWAUKEE (AP) — Neither Jesus Aguilar nor Bud Norris wanted to let their team down.

Aguilar succeeded twice.

Aguilar homered to break up rookie Jack Flaherty’s no-hit bid in the seventh inning, then homered again in the ninth to lift the Milwaukee Brewers over the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 on Friday night.

Both teams got just three hits. The benches and bullpens briefly cleared in the eighth after Eric Sogard slid into St. Louis shortstop Yairo Munoz, who caught a wide throw on a bunt play in the eighth.

Norris (3-2) started the ninth for the Cardinals by striking out Travis Shaw. But, Aguilar followed with an opposite-field drive to right for his 16th home run.

“Don’t get a strikeout. Don’t get a strikeout,” Aguilar said about digging in against Norris. “That’s why I was kind of overaggressive, I think. I got lucky to hit that pitch.”

Norris, speaking in front of his locker in the subdued Cardinals clubhouse, owned up to the mistake.

“I yanked one pitch, and he hit it,” Norris said. “That’s the game.”

It was another tough loss for the Cardinals, who have lost nine of the last 12.

“Watching them walk us off, that’s hard,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “Jack did everything he could possibly do.”

Corey Knebel (1-0) pitched the ninth for the NL Central leaders.

With one out in the seventh, Aguilar drove an 83 mph slider from Flaherty into the Brewers’ bullpen in left, where reliever Jeremy Jeffress caught the ball on the fly. A woman who was knitting — it appeared to be crochet, actually — in the front row behind home plate barely flinched as Aguilar connected.

“He got that ball almost off the ground,” catcher Yadier Molina said. “We’ve got to give him some credit.”

Aguilar tipped his cap to Flaherty.

“He was dominating the strike zone tonight, and I think we got lucky,” he said. “We tied the game in the moment. It’s a new game, and we’re moving forward, thinking we’re going to win this game.”

Flaherty matched a career high by striking out 13 in seven innings, allowing just one hit. The Cardinals played stellar defense behind him after giving up six unearned runs with a season-high four errors in Thursday’s 11-3 loss to Milwaukee. Munoz robbed Jonathan Villar of a base hit in the fifth with a nice running backhand stab of a liner tailing away from him.

“That was unbelievable,” Molina said of Flaherty’s performance. “Good pitching, good effort. Everything was working for him. We didn’t hit enough to get him the win tonight.”

Matt Carpenter walked, advanced on a sacrifice by Harrison Bader and scored on Marcell Ozuna’s liner up the middle in the third.

Brewers starter Junior Guerra allowed one run and three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in five-plus innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: INF Paul DeJong (left hand fracture) took batting practice and is anxious to return. “It looked like he didn’t miss a beat, but we’re going to have to slow down and make sure we’re following the program,” manager Mike Matheny said.

Brewers: LF Ryan Braun missed his second consecutive game after receiving a cryotherapy injection in his troublesome right thumb Wednesday in Los Angeles. … LHP Wade Miley (right oblique strain) made a rehab start for Double-A Biloxi. He went two innings and allowed a run on three hits and struck out three.

QUOTABLE

Each team struck out 15 times and each one seemed to bring consternation with plate umpire Tim Timmons.

“When the pitchers keep putting the balls on the corners, there’s going to be some disagreements,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “There were a lot of balls put on corners tonight.”

YOU’RE GONE

Tommy Pham, batting second, was ejected by Timmons after Pham took a called third strike in the first. He continued to bark about it from the dugout before being tossed for the first time in his career. Bader replaced Pham in center field.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (7-2, 2.69 ERA) makes his third start against the Brewers this season. He won 8-4 in his Cardinals debut on April 2.

Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (5-6, 4.54 ERA) makes his second start this season against the Cardinals. He is 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA in 10 career outings, including a no-decision April 3 at Miller Park.

— Associated Press —

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Odubel Herrera smiled when told he was being compared to Ichiro Suzuki and Vladimir Guerrero. He has potential to be known by his first name just like Ichiro and Vlad, too.

Herrera hit a tiebreaking, solo homer in the seventh inning, Cesar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 Wednesday to win their third straight series.

“What he’s doing is special,” manager Gabe Kapler said, adding that Herrera reminds him of Suzuki. “It’s elite.”

Herrera is batting .419 (13 for 31) with two doubles, five homers and eight RBI in the last seven games.

“He’s a different breed,” starter Jake Arrieta said before mentioning Guerrero’s name with Herrera. “When he gets hot, he’s fun to watch.”

Herrera had a tough stretch after an excellent start before finding his stroke again.

“It’s very satisfying to be compared to two legends,” he said.

Yadier Molina hit a pair of homers for the Cardinals, who lost starter Michael Wacha to injury.

Philadelphia’s beleaguered bullpen tossed three scoreless innings after Arrieta had another so-so outing, giving up both of Molina’s homers. Edubray Ramos (2-0) got five outs and Adam Morgan retired the last two batters with the tying run on second for his first career save.

“It was cool to go out there and succeed,” Morgan said.

The Phillies took two of three to win a series against the Cardinals for the first time since August 2014.

Arrieta gave up three runs and four hits in six innings to remain winless in June after posting a 0.90 ERA in five starts in May. Arrieta, who is earning $30 million this season as part of a three-year, $75 million contract, has a 6.97 ERA in four starts this month.

Wacha left in the fourth with a left oblique strain. The right-hander allowed three runs — one earned — and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He’ll have an MRI on Thursday.

“Feeling a little bit better,” Wacha said. “I’m hoping for the best.”

Herrera ripped a 91 mph slider from Sam Tuivailala (1-3) off the scoreboard on the facing of the second deck in right field to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. Herrera has a homer in four straight games.

Pinch hitter Jedd Gyorko hit a one-out double off Victor Arano in the ninth. Morgan entered to get Matt Carpenter on a foul pop and Tommy Pham on a grounder.

Molina drove a 3-2 pitch the opposite-way into the seats in right-center for his fifth career multihomer game in the sixth to tie it at 3.

A throwing error by Carpenter led to a pair of unearned runs in the fourth. Jorge Alfaro reached with one out when Carpenter’s throw pulled first baseman Jose Martinez off the bag. With two outs, Hernandez lined a 1-2 change-up to the seats in right for a 3-1 lead.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first after Rhys Hoskins hit a single, advanced to third on Herrera’s double and scored on Carlos Santana’s sacrifice fly.

Molina crushed Arrieta’s first pitch in the second inning to left to tie it at 1.

Wacha worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third by striking out Scott Kingery and retiring Nick Williams on a bouncer.

CLUTCH

Seven of Herrera’s 12 homers have given Philadelphia a lead.

TRAINER’S ROOM

PHILLIES: INF J.P. Crawford was placed on the 10-day disabled list after breaking his hand Tuesday night. INF Mitch Walding was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace him. … Williams returned to the lineup after he broke his nose in the field on Monday night.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (3-3, 2.73 ERA) takes the mound for the start of a four-game set at Milwaukee. He’s 6-4, 1.95 vs. the Brewers.

Phillies: After a day off, RHP Zach Eflin (4-2, 3.43 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series at Washington on Friday night. Eflin has never faced the Nationals.

— Associated Press —

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Matt Carpenter hit a tiebreaking solo homer with two out in the ninth, helping the St. Louis Cardinals edge the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 on Tuesday night.

Carpenter also had a tying two-run double in St. Louis’ four-run seventh. Tommy Pham homered and singled for the Cardinals, and Kolten Wong also went deep.

Odubel Herrera and Carlos Santana connected for the Phillies.

Seranthony Dominguez (1-1) struck out the first two batters in the ninth and had Carpenter in a 0-2 hole. But Carpenter lined the next pitch, a 98-mph fastball, over the wall in right to extend his homer streak to three games.

The Cardinals trailed 4-2 before rallying against Vince Velasquez and Tommy Hunter.

Velasquez got the first out of the seventh before a single and hit batsman brought manager Gabe Kapler to the mound. Hunter got pinch-hitter Greg Garcia to line out to left before Carpenter doubled, Pham singled and Jose Martinez made it 6-4 with another two-run double.

The Phillies tied it in the eighth on Rhys Hoskins’ two-run double. Austin Gomber started the inning, but was lifted for Jordan Hicks (3-1) with two out and runners on first and second. Three of Hicks’ four pitches to Hoskins were fastballs that registered at least 100-mph, but the slugger drove the final 101-mph heater into the gap in right-center.

Hicks pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two, to secure the victory.

Carpenter has hits in 12 straight road games and is batting .412 with six homers and 11 RBI over that streak.

The Phillies opened the scoring with Santana’s RBI groundout in the first. Pham extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games with a two-out homer to deep left in the third, tying it at 1.

Herrera continued his hot hitting against St. Louis by driving the first pitch he saw in the third, a 79-mph curveball, into the seats in right for a 2-1 Phillies lead. Herrera is batting .360 with five homers and 21 RBI in 25 career games against the Cardinals.

Cesar Hernandez’s bases-loaded walk in the fourth made it 3-1, but Philadelphia wasted a chance for more when Luke Weaver got Hoskins to pop out to shortstop before fanning Herrera to leave the bases full.

The Cardinals’ rally took Weaver off the hook. Weaver was in line for his fifth straight loss when he left after permitting four runs and six hits in five innings.

Velasquez was charged with four runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked three.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Matt Bowman (blister right hand) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and replaced by RHP Greg Holland. Holland pitched a perfect seventh with a pair of strikeouts.

Phillies: Infielder J.P. Crawford left after running the bases in the fourth inning and was replaced at third base by Maikel Franco. Crawford was hit on the left hand by a Weaver pitch. . OF Nick Williams suffered a broken nose in the field on Monday night, but he was available to play on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals RHP Michael Wacha (8-2, 3.24 ERA) will oppose Phillies RHP Jake Arrieta (5-5, 3.33 ERA) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. Wacha had his career-best eight-game winning streak snapped in a 13-5 loss to the Cubs in his last start. Arrieta will try to help the Phillies win their first series over St. Louis since August 24, 2014.

— Associated Press —

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Left fielder Marcell Ozuna dived for and missed Aaron Altherr’s two-run double with two outs in the 10th inning, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to rally for a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

Tommy Pham hit a solo homer in the top of the 10th, one inning after a wild pitch on a strikeout kept the game going. But the Phillies rallied.

Rhys Hoskins hit a bloop single to start the bottom of the 10th off Matt Bowman (0-2). Odubel Herrera dived headfirst into first to seemingly beat out an infield single, but the play was overturned by a video review. After Carlos Santana was intentionally walked, Bowman struck out Jesmuel Valentin.

Altherr then hit a sinking liner that appeared to skip off Ozuna’s glove before bouncing to the wall.

On a day former closer Hector Neris was sent to the minors, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler’s aggressive use of the bullpen nearly cost him. Seranthony Dominguez — the team’s best reliever — wasn’t available after pitching 2 1/3 innings in the previous two games. So Kapler turned to Victor Arano and Adam Morgan in the ninth to protect a 4-2 lead. Neither pitcher has ever earned a save.

Yadier Molina hit a one-out single in the ninth off Arano, and Jedd Gyorko followed with a double. Arano struck out Harrison Bader and fanned Yairo Munoz, but Munoz reached when catcher Andrew Knapp failed to block the wild pitch and a run scored.

Morgan came in and allowed a tying single to Kolten Wong.

Pham hit a deep drive off Jake Thompson (1-1) for his 11th homer.

Matt Carpenter and Yadier Molina also hit solo homers for St. Louis.

Herrera hit a three-run homer for Philadelphia.

The Phillies’ bullpen wasted a strong start from Nick Pivetta. He had a career-high 13 strikeouts, allowing two runs and four hits in 7 1/3 innings in his best outing since May 21. Pivetta lost his previous four starts, posting a 7.11 ERA in those games.

Pivetta left after Carpenter hit a double high off the fence in right to put runners at second and third. Right fielder Nick Williams exited with a bloody face after the ball hit him on the carom.

Edubray Ramos entered and struck out Pham and Jose Martinez swinging at sliders.

The Phillies have won six of eight games while the Cardinals have lost six of eight.

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas gave up four runs and six hits in five innings.

ROSTER MOVE

Neris was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and lefty Austin Davis was recalled. Neris had a 6.00 ERA in 30 appearances, going 1/3 with 10 saves in 13 chances.

TRAINER’S ROOM

CARDINALS: 1B Martinez returned to the lineup after missing three games on paternity leave. 1B Luke Voit was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.

PHILLIES: RHP Jerad Eickhoff (right hand) is set to throw a bullpen session Tuesday. … Righty reliever Pat Neshek is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday in the minors.

UP NEXT

RHP Luke Weaver (3-6, 4.52 ERA) starts for the Cardinals and RHP Vince Velasquez (5-7, 4.74) goes for the Phillies on Tuesday night. Weaver has lost both of his career starts vs. Philadelphia. Velasquez is 1-1 vs. St. Louis, including a victory earlier this season.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jack Flaherty and four relievers combined on a four-hitter, Matt Carpenter homered and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-0 on Sunday night.

Flaherty allowed just two hits while striking out seven in five innings, but he walked three and hit two batters and was pulled after throwing 97 pitches. He escaped a jam in the third inning when he struck out Kris Bryant with the bases loaded to keep the game scoreless.

John Brebbia (1-1) worked around two hits in a scoreless sixth inning to earn his first major league win. Austin Gomber, Jordan Hicks and Bud Norris each pitched a hitless inning to finish the shutout. It ended the Cardinals’ season-high four-game losing streak and prevented the Cubs from getting their first series sweep in St. Louis since Sept. 13-15, 2010.

Harrison Bader, Tommy Pham, and Marcell Ozuna strung together singles to open the sixth inning. Pham’s single extended his hitting streak to a National League-best 11 games to chase Jose Quintana (6-5) from the game.

Bader scored the game’s first run when Yadier Molina grounded into a double play and Jedd Gyorko’s RBI single drove in Pham to make it 2-0.

Quintana was charged with the two runs and four hits in five-plus innings in his 200th career major league game.

Carpenter hit his 10th home run of the season and second of this series in the seventh inning off Brian Duensing to push the lead to 3-0.

Yadier Molina had an RBI double in the eighth, moved to third on Yairo Munoz’s infield single and scored on shortstop Addison Russell’s throwing eror on the play.

Cubs shortstop Javier Baez left the game with a left elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch from Flaherty in the top of the third inning. Baez, who leads the team with 14 home runs, was replaced by Russell.

BABY CUBS

The Cubs announced the signing of draft picks OF Brennen Davis (62nd overall) and RHP Paul Richan (78th overall) prior to Sunday’s game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish (right triceps tendinitis) will throw a simulated game on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

Cardinals: RHP Greg Holland will travel with the team to Philadelphia after tossing a scoreless inning Saturday night on a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Springfield.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 4.12) opposes Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (4-4, 3.61) as Chicago opens a a three-game series against Los Angeles on Monday. Chatwood has issued a major league-leading 58 walks.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (7-2, 2.43) starts the opener of a three-game series in Philadelphia as St. Louis starts a seven-game trip. He will be opposed by Phillies RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.25).

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kris Bryant ended a 24-game homerless drought, the longest of his career, and Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber also went deep as the Chicago Cubs routed the St. Louis Cardinals 13-5 on Friday night.

Bryant drilled a 448-foot, two-run shot to left field off an ineffective Michael Wacha in the third inning for his first home run since May 14. The 2016 NL MVP capped a six-run fifth with an RBI single and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. His four RBI were a season high.

Jon Lester ran his scoreless streak to 17 innings before giving up a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna in the fourth as the Cubs won for the first time in four tries at Busch Stadium this season. Lester (8-2) allowed two runs in six innings to earn his fourth straight win.

Lester helped himself at the plate, too, driving in a run on a bunt in the fourth and reaching on catcher Yadier Molina’s throwing error that led to a second run as the Cubs extended their lead to 5-0.

Anthony Rizzo had three hits, was hit by a pitch and scored a run. Schwarber launched a three-run homer that traveled a projected 465 feet to straightaway center in the fifth, the third-longest homer by an opposing player in Busch Stadium III history.

Happ led off the third with a home run to right field. His first homer since May 22 snapped a 20-inning scoreless streak for the Cubs.

Wacha (8-2) allowed a career-high nine runs, eight earned, in a season-low four-plus innings. The three home runs he gave up tied a career high.

Matt Carpenter homered in the sixth and drove in two runs, but the Cardinals lost their third consecutive game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish (right triceps tendinitis) threw a 35-pitch bullpen. He is scheduled to throw another one when the team returns home next week.

Cardinals: 1B Luke Voit was recalled from Double-A Springfield and RHP Matt Bowman (right hand finger blisters) was activated from the 10-day disabled list. 1B Jose Martinez was placed on the paternity list and RHP Daniel Poncedeleon was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.

UP NEXT

Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-6, 3.48 ERA) starts Saturday night against RHP Carlos Martinez (3-2, 2.96). Hendricks has dropped three straight decisions for the first time in his career. Martinez has walked 12 over 7 2/3 innings in two starts since returning from a lat strain.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Eric Lauer carried a shutout into the sixth inning, Manuel Margot had three hits and the San Diego Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Wednesday night to win their fifth straight series.

Freddy Galvis drove in two first-inning runs for San Diego, which has won five of seven. The Padres hadn’t won five consecutive series since 2010.

Marcell Ozuna homered for the Cardinals, who have lost three of four.

Lauer (3-4) gave up two runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. He’s 3-0 when getting two or more runs of support.

Brad Hand recorded his 21st save in 23 opportunities. He got Jedd Gyorko to ground into a double play after hitting Yadier Molina to start the ninth.

St. Louis starter Luke Weaver (3-6) gave up four runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings. He has just one win over his last 11 starts.

Margot, who singled in the second and fourth, stretched the lead to 3-0 with a run-scoring triple in the sixth. Raffy Lopez followed with a broken-bat single off reliever Austin Gomber for a 4-0 lead.

Margot has hit safely in his last six games, going 9 for 20. He had two hits in a 4-2 win Tuesday.

San Diego reliever Jose Castillo struck out all four batters he faced after following Lauer.

SHARP DEFENSE

The Cardinals have not allowed an error in their last six games. It is their longest errorless stretch since Aug. 3-8 last season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: C Austin Hedges began a rehab assignment with Class A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday. He went 1 for 2. Hedges was placed on the DL on May 1 with right elbow tendonitis. He has missed 38 games.

Cardinals: INF Jose Martinez will be out on paternity leave for the upcoming weekend series against the Chicago Cubs.

UP NEXT:

Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (5-3, 3.43) will open a four-game series at Atlanta against RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-0, 2.37) on Thursday. The Padres are in 10-3 when Tyson starts and have won the last six.

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (8-1, 2.47) face LHP Jon Lester (7-2, 2.22) in the first of a three-game home series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Wacha has won his last eight decisions against the Cubs.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Eric Hosmer homered, San Diego’s bullpen took a perfect game into the sixth inning and the Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Tuesday night for their 10th win in 14 games.

Padres reliever Matt Strahm started the bullpen game and retired nine batters on 36 pitches, including four strikeouts. It was the team’s third bullpen start this season while left-hander Joey Lucchesi recovers from a right hip strain.

Adam Cimber (3-2) retired the next six with two strikeouts before Harrison Bader broke up the perfect game with an infield single in the sixth. Bader was promptly erased in a double play.

Brad pitched the ninth for his 20th save.

Hosmer drove the first pitch of the fourth inning to center field to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. It was his second home run in three games.

A.J. Ellis tacked on two more with a two-out hit in the fourth. The Cardinals challenged the safe call on the second run, but replay showed the Freddy Galvis beat catcher Yadier Molina’s tag at hoem plate.

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas (7-2) struck out five in six innings and walked none. He has walked one or less in all seven of his home starts this season, but St. Louis still lost for the second time in three games.

Marcell Ozuna’s RBI single snapped the Padres’ shutout bid in the seventh. Ozuna has driven in five runs in his last four games.

TRAINING ROOM

Padres: OF Franchy Cordero (right forearm strain) took batting practice and hopes to begin a rehab in a couple of days.

Cardinals: RHP Matt Bowman (right hand blisters) gave up a run in two innings Monday at Triple-A Memphis and could be activated by the end of the week.

UP NEXT

Cardinals RHP Luke Weaver (3-5, 4.35 ERA) will get the start in the series finale against the Padres and LHP Eric Lauer (2-4, 6.64 ERA) on Wednesday at 7:15 CDT. Weaver has not allowed a run in 12 innings (two career starts) against San Diego. Lauer gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings against St. Louis on May 11.

— Associated Press —

CINCINNATI (AP) — Legs, glove and bat — center fielder Billy Hamilton used them all to almost single-handedly stop the Cincinnati Reds’ historic losing streak to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Hamilton made a bunch of key defensive plays and the Reds ended their 13-game skid against St. Louis, beating the Cardinals 6-3 Sunday.

Hamilton threw out two runners, then made outstanding catches against the wall in the eighth and ninth innings. He also tripled and scored twice.

“It’s all about me catching the balls if I get a chance to,” Hamilton said. “Like I tell the pitchers, if it’s anywhere inside the park, if I can get to it, I’m going to make an effort to get to it.”

The Cardinals’ overall winning streak against Cincinnati was their longest since the 1930-1931 seasons. The Reds had lost 11 straight home games to St. Louis.

“Honestly, the losing streak to the Cardinals was the last thing on my mind,” Reds manager Jim Riggleman said. “It was all about today.”

Scooter Gennett drove in two runs and the Reds capitalized on the Cardinals’ season-high 11 walks.

“Any win is always good for us,” Hamilton said. “We’ve been struggling up and down this year. For us to get this win, it gets some confidence back in us. I feel it’s a big win.”

The Cardinals piled up 10 hits in five-plus innings against Anthony DeSclafani (1-1), who was making his second start since Sept. 28, 2016.

Hamilton threw out Jose Martinez trying to stretch a single into a double to end the first inning. Martinez originally was ruled safe, but the call was overturned after a replay review.

Hamilton also threw out pitcher Carlos Martinez trying to score from first on Matt Carpenter’s single to end the fourth. Hamilton tried for a diving catch, knocked the ball away, but recovered to throw home.

Amir Garrett allowed an unearned run in the sixth and Michael Lorenzen pitched a perfect seventh before Jared Hughes pitched the eighth and ninth for his fourth save.

“Billy made some insane plays,” Hughes said. “I gave him the game ball and a big hug. It was unbelievable. I’m so happy he’s on my team.”.

The Reds scored five runs on just four hits in 3 2/3 innings against Martinez (3-3), who was making his second start since coming off the disabled list with a strained back muscle. He issued a season-high seven walks, one short of tying his career high, while hitting a batter and uncorking a wild pitch on ball four that allowed Hamilton to go from first to third. Martinez has 12 walks in 7 2/3 innings over his last two starts.

“I couldn’t find the strike zone with my breaking ball or my cutter,” Martinez said. “I was missing a lot. It was a little bit frustrating. I was really close. I never lost my focus. I was trying to compete.”

SECOND LIFE

Jose Martinez’s third-inning RBI single originally was ruled the first out of an inning-ending double play after left fielder Jesse Winker made what looked like a spectacular leaping catch at the wall and Tommy Pham was doubled off second base. Replays showed the ball caromed off the wall first, leaving Martinez with his sixth RBI of the series.

BALL MAGNETS

Carlos Martinez went into the game with a league-leading nine hit batsmen and reached double figures by grazing Eugenio Suarez in the third.

BUSY MAN

The Cardinals got a gift run when RF Scott Schebler’s throw on a short flyout skipped off C Tucker Barnhart’s glove and the 6-foot-5 Garrett, a former college basketball player at St. John’s who was backing up the play, couldn’t make a leaping stab. The ball went into the Cardinals’ dugout and out of play, but Garrett jumped down the dugout steps in pursuit. Garrett picked up an assist and putout during a rundown on the next play.

OUTSIDE THE (STRIKE) BOX

Cardinals pitchers combined to walk 11 batters, including Joey Votto four times for the sixth time in his career. The 11 walks were Cincinnati’s season high.

BACKWARDS LINE

St. Louis outhit Cincinnati 11-5 in the loss — Cincinnati’s seventh consecutive game in which the loser outhit the winner.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina took a foul tip from Suarez off his right inner thigh in the first inning. Molina paused briefly but stayed in the game.

Reds: Votto, the star first baseman who leads the Reds with 63 starts in 66 games, will be Cincinnati’s designated hitter in the two-game series at Kansas City on Tuesday and Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty (2-2), Monday’s starter against San Diego, allowed a career-high eight hits and six runs in his last start on June 6 against Miami.

Reds: RHP Sal Romano (3-7) makes his first career appearance against the Royals on Tuesday at Kansas City.

— Associated Press —

CINCINNATI (AP) — Yadier Molina stood on second base and heard the Cardinals fans chanting his name in celebration. He’s usually in the middle of things whenever St. Louis wins at Great American Ball Park.

And lately, that’s been every single time.

Molina doubled with the bases loaded, and Michael Wacha pitched two-run ball into the sixth inning Saturday, leading the Cardinals to a 6-4 victory and their 13th straight win over the Reds.

“We’re playing well,” said Jordan Hicks, who pitched the ninth for his first career save in three tries. “I think the future is bright.”

The Cardinals also homered three times as they extended their second-longest streak of domination in a rivalry that goes back to the 1800s. They beat them 18 times in a row in 1930-31.

St. Louis has also won 11 straight in Cincinnati, its longest such streak since it first visited the city in 1892. The Cardinals’ longest road winning streak against any club is 18 in a row at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field from 1964-66.

“Our record against them is not good,” Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said . “We’ve had some great games against them and we keep coming up short. I really feel like our club is close to being a respectable club.”

The two Cardinals with impressive career numbers against Cincinnati led the way.

Molina delivered another pivotal hit in the ballpark where he’s been booed each time his name has announced since his brawl with Brandon Phillips in 2010.

With two outs and the bases loaded in the third, Molina doubled to center for a 5-0 lead. Cardinals fans chanted “Yadi!” as he stood on second. Molina has more homers (14), hits (118), doubles (26), extra-base hits (40) and RBI (57) at Great American Ball Park than at any other road park.

His 57 RBI at GABP are tied with Albert Pujols for second most by a visiting player, one behind Lance Berkman.

“What a big hit,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He steps up with the bases loaded, the crowd is booing — I don’t know, it seems to help him. This is a place where he hits very well.”

Jose Martinez and Marcell Ozuna homered back-to-back in the first inning off Luis Castillo (4-7). It was Martinez’s third homer in five at-bats. Matt Carpenter connected in the seventh.

Wacha (8-1) gave up Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer in 5 2/3 innings for his 11th career win against the Reds, tying Jaime Garcia and Lance Lynn for most among active pitchers. The Cardinals have won his last 13 starts against Cincinnati, and Wacha is 10-0 with a 2.48 ERA during that span.

In his start against the Pirates last Sunday, Wacha took a no-hitter into the ninth before Colin Moran had a leadoff single. Wacha has allowed only seven hits in his last three outings and has held opponents to two runs or fewer in 10 straight starts.

“Everything’s been feeling good and now it’s on to the next one,” Wacha said.

The Reds fell to a season-low 22-43, the second-worst 65-game start in franchise history. The 1934 club was one game worse.

STREAKIN’

Wacha is the first Cardinals pitcher to win eight straight decisions since Joe Kelly in 2013. It’s the best streak of his career.

STATS

Molina’s double was his 339th, tying Ray Lankford for ninth all-time in St. Louis history. It also gave him 100 career RBI against the Reds. … Reds starters have lasted six innings in back-to-back starts for the first time since May 20-22. … Jesse Winker hit a solo homer in the eighth, the first that Sam Tuivailala has allowed this season in 18 appearances. … Jose Peraza extended his hitting streak to 12 games, the longest by a Reds player this season. Scott Schebler has a career-best nine-game streak.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: Homer Bailey will make his first rehab start Monday with Triple-A Louisville. He’s been on the 10-day DL since June 2 with a sore right knee. Bailey is 1-7 with a 6.68 ERA in 12 starts.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (3-2, 1.83) makes his second start since returning from a strained muscle in his right side. He lasted only four innings and walked five in a 7-4 loss to Miami on Tuesday.

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (0-1, 7.20) makes his second start of the season. He gave up four runs in five innings of a 9-6 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday. DeSclafani missed all last season with a strained elbow and the first two months of this season with a strained oblique.

— Associated Press —