CINCINNATI (AP) — Asher Wojciechowski frustrated St. Louis for five innings, and that was enough.

The right-hander gave one of his best performances in his return to the rotation, and Joey Votto drove home a pair of runs with a double and a single on Friday night, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.

The Reds have won all five games against St. Louis at Great American Ball Park this season. They lead 8-3 in their season series.

Wojciechowski (2-1) started after making six relief appearances in July, taking the place of the injured Scott Feldman. Wojciechowski allowed only three hits, including Mike Leake’s run-scoring infield single, and left after throwing 78 pitches.

“He’s a mature kid,” manager Bryan Price said of the rookie. “He’s not going to get his feelings hurt if he has to leave. It’s been a while since he went that long.”

Wojciechowski felt strong on a cool night but didn’t object to leaving after five innings.

“It feels great,” he said. “I was out there trying to do what I had been doing in the long relief role.”

Votto had a pair of RBI hits off Mike Leake (7-10), who fell to 0-5 in eight career starts against his former team. Billy Hamilton added a run-scoring single off Leake, who allowed eight hits in six innings.

“It’s part of the game,” Leake said. “Something’s telling me I’m not supposed to beat them yet.”

Votto played in his fifth All-Star game and then went into a 5-for-39 slump that dropped his average to .295. He has hit safely in his last nine games, the longest active streak on the team.

Michael Lorenzen gave up Carson Kelly’s RBI single in the eighth, and the Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs. Randal Grichuk took a called third strike to end the threat.

Raisel Iglesias gave up a single and a walk in the ninth before finishing his 19th save in 20 chances. Cincinnati is only 6-15 since the All-Star break.

The Cardinals are 1/3 on the start of a three-city trip to Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Kansas City. They’ve lost their last two games by a run, slipping to 17-22 in such close finishes. Only Philadelphia has lost more one-run games in the majors.

St. Louis stranded seven runners in the last three innings, setting up another close loss.

“We put together some good at-bats at times, but we just can’t get the big hit,” manager Mike Matheny said. “That’s how these games are decided. You need that big hit.”

BIG BOPPER

The Reds played a tribute on the videoboard and held a few moments of remembrance for Lee May, who died last weekend. May is in the team’s Hall of Fame.

KEEP GOING

Rookie Jesse Winker scored from first base on Votto’s double in the first inning, running through an emphatic stop sign by third base coach Billy Hatcher. The throw was up the line, allowing Winker to score.

NOT YET

Some of the Reds lost track of outs in the third and started off the field after a double play resulted in two gone.

Y’ER OUT

Tucker Barnhart was called out at the plate as he also tried to score from second base on Hamilton’s single in the fifth inning. The Reds challenged and umpire Brian Knight’s call was upheld on review.

STATS

St. Louis rookie Paul DeJong broke an 0-for-16 slump. … Greg Garcia had his first career triple and scored on Leake’s single. … The Reds haven’t allowed a homer in their last four games, their longest such streak since 2015. They lead the majors with 197 allowed, putting them on pace to break their record of 258 given up last season.

SWAP

The Reds acquired minor league outfielder Randy Ventura from the Braves in exchange for international bonus pool space.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina was out of the lineup a day after getting hit in the head by a bat and in the shoulder by a foul tip. Manager Mike Matheny said he was OK, just getting a day of rest. Molina pinch-hit in the ninth and grounded out.

Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani had an MRI that detected tendinitis in his pitching elbow, another setback in his long rehabilitation. DeSclafani developed a sore elbow during spring training and hasn’t pitched in a game.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Lance Lynn (9-6) has won his last three starts. He went 3-1 with a 1.47 ERA in six July starts. He’s 9-4 career against the Reds.

Reds: Luis Castillo (2-4) is 1/3 in his last four starts. The rookie hasn’t faced the Cardinals.

— Associated Press —

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Keon Broxton did a little bit of everything for the Brewers on Thursday.

Broxton drove in the go-ahead run and saved a run with a leaping catch, Matt Garza made a strong start in his return from the disabled list, and Milwaukee beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1.

Broxton, who robbed Jose Martinez of a homer in the second when he stretched his glove atop the center field wall, gave Milwaukee a 2-1 lead with a single in the fifth off reliever Brett Cecil (1-4).

“It was awesome to be able to come out today and do something good for the team,” Broxton said. “I’m just trying to make plays. That’s my job. It’s huge for my confidence, it’s huge for the team’s confidence. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

Garza (5-5), making his first start since July 21 because of a right leg strain, gave up one earned run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings to give second-place Milwaukee its first home series win over St. Louis since July 2012. The Brewers, trying to stay close to first-place Chicago in the NL Central, won for just the fifth time in their last 17 games.

Kolten Wong missed a tying home run by a few feet when his drive to right-center bounced off the wall in the eighth. He was stranded at second when Anthony Swarzak retired Tommy Pham on a groundout and Matt Carpenter on a flyout.

Corey Knebel worked the ninth and struck out Greg Garcia with runners on first and second to earn his 20th save in 25 opportunities.

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha allowed one run on five hits in four innings. With the game tied at 1 in the fifth and runners on first and third, manager Mike Matheny pulled Wacha for pinch-hitter Luke Voit, who hit into an inning-ending double play.

“We have to take a shot, especially when you can see we weren’t getting many opportunities up until that point,” Matheny said. “He was averaging 20 pitches per inning, so he was only going one more inning. We had guys like Cecil that needed to pitch.”

Wacha’s only blemish was Jesus Aguilar’s homer to left in the third. Aguilar’s drive was his 11th this season, and he homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

Cecil retired the first two batters in the fifth but then gave up three consecutive singles. Broxton’s hit drove in Travis Shaw, who went 2-for-4 after getting just two hits in his previous 19 at-bats.

Garza retired 12 of his first 13 batters to improve to 2-0 against St. Louis this season.

“I thought Matt was very efficient through four innings,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said.

OUCH

Domingo Santana inadvertently hit Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in the back of the head with his bat on a strikeout in the seventh. Earlier in the game, a foul tip by Santana bounced off Molina’s chest and lower face mask, leaving him in pain.

BEEN AWHILE

Eric Thames batted leadoff for Milwaukee, the first time he’s occupied that spot in the lineup since he was with Toronto in 2011. He went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts as the Brewers’ seventh leadoff hitter this year.

“I thought about Thames a bunch in the leadoff spot,” Counsell said. “It just hadn’t happened yet.”

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Mike Leake (7-9, 3:29) opens up a three-game set Friday at Cincinnati. He is 0-4 against his former team.

Brewers: Milwaukee will call up RHP Brandon Woodruff from Triple-A Colorado Springs for Friday’s opener of a three-game series at Tampa Bay.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Carpenter returned to the lineup after he was scratched Wednesday with hip discomfort. He was 0 for 4.

Brewers: C Jett Bandy left the game late and X-rays revealed he has a fractured rib from getting hit by a pitch earlier this week. Counsell said he will go on the disabled list.

— Associated Press —

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Yadier Molina hit two solo home runs, Kolten Wong added a two-run double, Luke Weaver pitched into the seventh inning and the St. Louis Cardinals held on for a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

Weaver (1-1) made one mistake in the first and Eric Thames hit it for his 25th home run of the season. Weaver regrouped and held the Brewers scoreless until Hernan Perez’s one-out RBI single in the seventh.

Weaver allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked two over 6 1/3 innings in his first road start of the season and second for Adam Wainwright (mid-back tightness). He took a 4-0 loss to Arizona in his first start on July 27 after being recalled for the second time this season.

Molina homered in the fourth and then crushed the first pitch from Brent Suter (2-2) leading off the sixth over the wall in left for his 12th of the season and fourth career multi-homer game.

Jeremy Jeffress, who made his first appearance since being reacquired Monday in a trade with the Texas Rangers, took over for Suter with runners at first and second and one out in the sixth. One out later, Wong drove in the final two runs of the inning.

Suter struck out seven, walked one and allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Jesus Aguilar hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer off John Brebbia in the eighth. Trevor Rosenthal got the last four outs for his seventh save.

Luke Voit’s ground out with the bases loaded in the top of the second tied the game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 1B Matt Carpenter was scratched from the lineup with right hip discomfort. … RHP Adam Wainwright (mid-back tightness) threw a bullpen session Wednesday.

Brewers: C Stephen Vogt (left knee sprain) and RHP Chase Anderson (strained left oblique) have made enough progress that the club targets their return during the West Coast road trip, starting Aug. 18 in Colorado.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (8-4, 3.71 ERA) brings a 4-0 career mark (4.81 ERA) in nine games (eight starts) against the Brewers in his 20th start of the season. He’s been one of the best in the NL over the span of his last six outings. He is 5-1 with a 1.86 ERA.

Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (4-5, 3.83 ERA) comes off the disabled list (right lower leg strain) to make his 16th start of the season and second against the Cardinals. He is 6-5 with a 4.18 ERA in 15 career starts against St. Louis, including a 7-6 win on June 14 at Busch Stadium.

— Associated Press —

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jimmy Nelson finally beat St. Louis with six strong innings, and the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Nelson (9-5) entered 0-8 with a 7.01 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) against the Cardinals. This time, the right-hander overcame his division rival by allowing just two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.

The Brewers’ bullpen kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard for three innings, including Anthony Swarzak striking out the side in the eighth after Josh Hader issued a leadoff walk.

Left fielder Ryan Braun and shortstop Orlando Arcia collided and allowed Stephen Piscotty to reach on a single with one out in the ninth, but Corey Knebel worked around the miscue to earn his 19th save.

The Brewers scored their three runs in the first inning off Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez (7-9) and had just two infield singles the rest of the game.

Eric Sogard scored on a groundout by Braun, and Domingo Santana snapped Milwaukee’s 0-for-33 skid with runners in scoring position with a two-out RBI single up the middle. Manny Pina followed with a double to center to plate Santana and make it 3-0.

A two-out RBI single by Yadier Molina and another by Tommy Pham in the fifth pulled St. Louis within 3-2.

Nelson worked out of the fifth by getting Paul DeJong to fly out with two on and then pitched a scoreless sixth.

Martinez settled in to get through five innings with just the three runs allowed. He escaped further damage in the fifth by inducing a grounder to third base by Santana with the bases loaded.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (mid-back tightness) threw off flat ground Tuesday and is slated to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. RHP Luke Weaver will start in his place Wednesday against the Brewers, with Wainwright potentially being inserted into the rotation before his next scheduled turn. … St. Louis activated Piscotty from the disabled list before the game and optioned OF Harrison Bader to Triple-A Memphis.

Brewers: RHP Matt Garza (right lower leg strain) is expected to come off the disabled list to start Thursday’s series finale against St. Louis. … RHP Chase Anderson (strained left oblique) threw a successful bullpen session Tuesday. He will face hitters in a live simulated game Friday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Luke Weaver (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will make his second start of the season in place of the injured Wainwright. He allowed four runs in five innings in a 4-0 loss to Arizona on July 27.

Brewers: LHP Brent Suter (2-1, 2.40 ERA) will move up in the rotation to start on regular rest Wednesday. Since joining the Brewers rotation July 3, Suter is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five starts.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lance Lynn made it clear he wants to stay in St. Louis. With his words — and his performance.

The subject of numerous trade rumors, Lynn threw six strong innings and Jose Martinez homered and drove in three runs as the Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 Sunday for their fifth win in seven games.

Lynn (9-6) gave up two runs and four hits. He has allowed no more than two earned runs in each of his last six starts.

“I told you guys all along, I’m not going anywhere,” Lynn said. “So, I’m not worried about anything. What’s there to worry about? I don’t control it.”

Lynn retired the last eight batters he faced in improving to 5-0 lifetime against Arizona.

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny was impressed with Lynn’s ability to push the speculation aside.

“I think you have to attribute that to his toughness,” Matheny said. “You know he’s been around a little while, and he’s been around other people who have been through it.”

Lynn recorded his 70th career victory.

“He’s got a ton of experience, nothing seems to faze him,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

Trevor Rosenthal struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his sixth save in eight opportunities.

Martinez hit a two-run drive in the fourth to tie it, then had a sacrifice fly in the sixth that scored Jedd Gyorko with the go-ahead run.

The home run was his seventh of the season.

“I saw a pretty good cutter in my first at-bat and I was (visualizing) that,” Martinez said. “I got it elevated and put a pretty good swing on it and it went out.”

Taijuan Walker (6-5) allowed three runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out 10.

“I felt like I threw some pretty good pitches,” Walker said. “But, I didn’t do my job. The offense gave me a lead, I didn’t hold it.”

Arizona, in prime position for an NL wild-card spot, is 2-2 on its 10-game road trip.

Yadier Molina singled Gyorko to third base in the sixth. Molina also singled ahead of Martinez’s home run.

Cardinals reliever Matt Bowman induced Paul Goldschmidt to ground out with a runner on second to end the seventh.

Ketel Marte doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chris Iannetta in Arizona’s two-run second.

Arizona second baseman Chris Owings fractured the middle finger on his right hand during a bunt attempt in the second inning. The ball appeared to hit his bat as well as his finger.

Owings is returning to Phoenix to be examined by the medical staff, but is likely to miss considerable time.

“It’s tough,” Lovullo said. “He’s one of the guys we turn to for leadership. He’s helped us get to where we are now.”

Pinch-hitter A.J. Pollock was ejected in the ninth after arguing a called strike.

MAKING HISTORY

The Diamondbacks’ 60-45 record is the second-best in franchise history through 105 games. They went 64-41 in 2002 on the way to a 98-64 mark and a first-place finish in the NL West.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray remains on the seven-day concussion disabled list after he was hit by a line drive in Friday’s 10-5 loss.

Cardinals: OF Stephen Piscotty is expected to return to the team on Tuesday after a short rehab stint in Single-A Peoria. He was put on the 10-day disabled list on July 15 with a groin issue.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: Open a three-game series at Chicago on Tuesday against the Cubs. Arizona has yet to announce a starter. LHP Jon Lester (8-6, 3.88) will start for the Cubs.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (7-8. 3.52) begins a three-game series at Milwaukee on Tuesday. He will be opposed by RHP Jimmy Nelson (8-5, 3.38). The Cardinals are 1-5 in Martinez’s last six starts.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — It’s been a week of firsts for St. Louis reliever Trevor Rosenthal.

On Tuesday, he earned his first two-inning win in a 3-2 victory over Colorado.

Against Arizona on Friday night, Rosenthal pitched the final two innings for his first two-inning major league save as St. Louis defeated the Diamondbacks 1-0.

“I think I’ll probably start next week,” Rosenthal said laughing.

Arizona starter Robbie Ray left the game in the second inning after getting hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of rookie Luke Voit.

Against Brett Cecil in the eighth, the Diamondbacks put runners on second and third with a single and double.

Enter Rosenthal.

“Obviously, it’s the heart of the lineup and it’s a tough spot,” Rosenthal said. “Anything can happen, good or bad. I needed to keep focused and make good pitches and then it might work out for us.”

It did.

He struck out A.J. Pollack. With the infield in, David Peralta grounded to second and Kolten Wong, who entered in the seventh as a pinch runner, cut down Ketel Marte at home. Arizona challenged and lost the replay.

“Once it goes to review, they examine the whole play, whether it’s blocking the plate or whether there was a tag,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “It was close enough for us but obviously it didn’t go our way.”

Marte was going on contact on the play.

“It was a close play but he (Wong) threw the perfect throw,” Marte said. “I think he got me at the last second.”

He did believe catcher Yadier Molina blocked his path to the plate.

“Yeah, he blocked me but he can do it because the infielders, they played in and when they play in, he can block me and I was trying to do my best but he got me at the last second,” Marte said.

Rosenthal ended the inning by striking out Paul Goldschmidt. That was his fifth strikeout in nine career at-bats versus Rosenthal.

Rosenthal had a 1-2-3 ninth to close it out for his fifth save.

“It was a lot fun,” Rosenthal said.

St. Louis starter Michael Wacha was impressed.

“That was a big-time save right there,” Wacha said. “He came in and didn’t allow a single run. He really beared down and competed out there.”

Manager Mike Matheny agreed.

“Trevor was amazing,” Matheny said. “Michael set the tone. He was fantastic.”

Wacha pitched six innings and Jedd Gyorko drove in the lone run with one of his three hits.

Wacha (8-4) allowed three hits. He has won five of his last six starts and improved to 7-1 in 12 starts at Busch Stadium this season.

Wacha finished strong. He pitched out of a jam in the sixth. He gave up a single and double with two outs before striking out Peralta to end his night.

When the ball hit Ray it caromed in the air into foul territory where third baseman Daniel Descalso caught it for the out.

Ray lay prone on the mound for several minutes before sitting up with his teammates surrounding him. He was driven off the field on a cart and was taken for an examination.

The only St. Louis run came in the sixth. Tommy Pham reached on an error by Descalso. After stealing second, Pham moved to third on a ground ball to second by rookie Paul DeJong. Gyorko followed and lined an RBI single up the middle.

The run snapped a 15-inning scoreless streak for the Cardinals.

Arizona had a chance to score against Seung Hwan Oh in the seventh. With two on and two outs, Oh got Chris Herrman to ground to first.

St. Louis loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but Andrew

Chafin got Pham to hit into an inning-ending double play.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Chris Owings hit a double in the fifth inning, the first of three in the game. Arizona has hit 31 doubles in its last 11 games. The Diamondbacks have 209 doubles this season to rank fourth in the majors.

LOU BROCK HEALTH UPDATE

The St. Louis Cardinals announced during the game that Hall of Famer Lou Brock earlier disclosed he is cancer free.

The team had revealed back in April that Brock had been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer.

Brock retired in 1979 with 3,023 hits and a .293 average.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: 3B Jake Lamb felt sore Friday and was a late lineup scratch. Lamb made a great catch on a foul fly by Randal Grichuk in the fourth inning. He fell backwards into the stands but stayed in the game. Lamb did pinch-hit in the ninth.

Cardinals: RF Steve Piscotty continues to play at Peoria, where he was in the lineup Friday, as he works to come back from a right groin strain. He’s supposed to rejoin the club Monday in Milwaukee.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: Zach Greinke (12-4, 2.92) is 4-0 in his last five starts with a 2.25 ERA. Opponents are hitting .202 with 29 strikeouts in 32 innings in those starts.

Cardinals: Mike Leake (7-8, 3.20) is 4-1 in six starts at home against Arizona. He threw seven shutout innings in an 8-2 win in his last start against Colorado.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit a grand slam and Zack Godley pitched seven innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 on Thursday night.

The Diamondbacks won their third game out of four, improved to 59-43 and snapped the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak.

Godley (4-4) reversed a trend of two poor outings, in which he allowed 10 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings, with the best performance of his 14-start career. Only three Cardinals advanced into scoring position as Godley struck out seven.

Archie Bradley and Fernando Rodney each pitched an inning in relief for the Diamondbacks, who had their first shutout since May 30 at Pittsburgh.

Martinez’s blast, his fourth homer as a Diamondback in four days and 20th overall, gave Arizona a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. It was the fourth grand slam of his career for Martinez, who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers on July 18.

Paul Goldschmidt had two singles, walked and scored on the grand slam.

With the loss the Cardinals, who were shut out for the first time since May 26 at Colorado, missed the opportunity to reach the .500 mark for the first time since June 2. St. Louis fell to 50-52.

Cardinals starter Luke Weaver (0-1), who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis after Adam Wainwright (back) was placed on the disabled list, was burned by two walks immediately in front of the Martinez grand slam, which were the only runs he gave up in his five innings.

Paul DeJong was the only Cardinal to reach safely more than once, with two singles and a walk. DeJong extended his hitting streak to seven games and is hitting .379 (11 for 29) with four homers and seven RBI during that span.

WEB GEMS

Diamondbacks 3B Jake Lamb made an over the shoulder basket catch on Randal Grichuk’s foul ball a step before his momentum took him over the wall and into the stands in the fourth inning. Lamb was not injured and stayed in the game.

Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong ranged far into right field to make his own over the shoulder basket catch on Chris Iannetta’s pop up in the seventh.

MOTHER NATURE

The start of the game was delayed for 62 minutes by rain.

TRAINING ROOM

Diamondbacks: OF Yasmany Tomas (right groin tendinitis) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list from the 10-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for minor league C John Ryan Murphy, who acquired in a trade with Minnesota.

Cardinals: OF Stephen Piscotty (right groin strain) went 0 for 3 in the first of four scheduled rehab assignments at Single-A Peoria.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray (9-5, 3.15 ERA) is fourth in the National League with 149 strikeouts. In nine road starts (eight quality) he is 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA.

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (7-4, 3.93 ERA) has a 2.20 ERA in his last five starts. He is 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA in four career starts against Arizona.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Paul DeJong homered and Randal Grichuk had a career-high four hits as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 10-5 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.

St. Louis has won four of five while Colorado has lost four of six.

DeJong’s two-run shot in the first inning was his eighth of the month and set a franchise record for a rookie in July. His 14th homer of the season, in just 49 games, ties him for the team lead with Matt Carpenter, Tommy Pham and Jedd Gyorko.

Grichuk, who went 4 for 5, had four singles in his final four at-bats including hits in three successive innings.

Carlos Martinez (7-8) struck out eight and gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings for his first win since June 16. He also kick-started a five-run fourth-inning outburst with a run-scoring single that tied the game 4-all.

Nolan Arenado hit his 23rd homer for the Rockies who are 18-34 in St. Louis since the start of the 2010 season.

Colorado starter Jeff Hoffman (6-3) allowed seven hits and six earned runs in four innings.

Gerado Parra gave the Rockies a 4-2 lead with a two-run double in the third.

St. Louis took the lead for good at 6-4 on a two-run double by Carpenter in the fourth.

Yadier Molina added a two-run double in the sixth to push the lead to 9-5.

St. Louis outfielder Harrison Bader, in just his second game, added three hits.

The Rockies announced after the game that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek from Philadelphia for minor league pitchers J.D. Hammer, Alejandro Requena and infielder Jose Gomez.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list. He had been bothered by a right calf strain. RHP Greg Holland was placed on paternity leave.

Cardinals: RHP Luke Weaver will be called up tomorrow from Triple-A Memphis to start on Thursday against Arizona. Weaver will take the spot of RHP Adam Wainwright, who was placed on the 10-disabled list on Tuesday with back stiffness. Weaver is 9-1 with a 1.91 ERA in 13 starts at Memphis. … St. Louis recalled RHP Mike Mayers from Memphis before Wednesday’s game. Mayers was 5-6 with a 3.49 ERA in 19 games at Memphis. … Cardinals OF Stephen Piscotty, who is bothered by a groin strain, will begin a rehab assignment on Thursday at Single-A Peoria.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP German Marquez (8-4, 4.20 ERA) will start on Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Washington. His eight wins are tied for third among NL rookies behind teammates Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela.

Cardinals: Weaver will open a four-game series at home against Arizona on Thursday. Weaver will be opposed by RHP Zack Godley (3-4, 3.32).

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader doubled leading off the ninth inning for his first major league hit and slid across the plate to score the winning run of his debut on Jedd Gyorko’s short sacrifice fly, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals over the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Taken on the third round of the 2015 amateur draft, Bader was brought up before the game when Dexter Fowler was placed on the disabled list with a strained left wrist.

Bader started in center field and hit seventh, and he grounded out, struck out and flied out in his first three at-bats.

With his mother and sister arriving during the game following a flight from New York to join his father in the stands, Bader doubled down the left-field line against lefty Jake McGee (0-1) leading off the ninth. Bader was batting .403 (29 for 72) with 10 homers against lefties at Triple-A Memphis this year.

Greg Garcia sacrificed as Bader took third, and Gyorko hit a fly near the right-field line that Carlos Gonzalez caught 248 feet from the plate. The speedy Bader slid across jubilantly as Gonzalez’s one-hop throw went slightly up the third-base line.

Trevor Rosenthal (3-4) pitched two scoreless innings.

Major League Baseball experimented with 1-minute, 45-second breaks between innings rather than the usual 2:05 for locally televised games, and the game lasted 3:11 — 6 minutes longer than this year’s big league average for nine-inning games.

A 23-year-old from Bronxville, New York, Bader was the 100th overall pick in 2015 and was hitting .297 with 19 home runs and 48 RBI in 97 games for Memphis this season.

He became only the second player from Horace Mann School in New York to make it to the major leagues after Pedro Alvarez, a third baseman who played for Pittsburgh from 2010-15 and was selected an All-Star in 2013. Converted to first base, Alvarez spent last year with Baltimore and has been with the Orioles’ Triple-A team at Norfolk, Virginia, this season.

Lance Lynn, who may be traded before Monday’s deadline, allowed one run and three hits over six innings. The 30-year-old right-hander is eligible for free agency after this season.

Rockies starter Jon Gray gave up two runs and eight hits in five innings.

Cardinals rookie Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer in the first, his 13th of the season and seventh in July.

Gerardo Parra had a sacrifice fly in the seventh off Kevin Siegrist, and Trevor Story tied the score in the eighth against Matt Bowman with his 14th homer.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Carlos Estevez was recalled from Albuquerque and RHP Jairo Diaz was optioned to the Triple-A farm team. Estevez is 4-0 with an 8.10 ERA in 18 appearances with Colorado. . 1B Ian Desmond (calf) left the game in the fourth inning.

Cardinals: Fowler’s injury is primarily to the forearm, according to Cardinals general manager Mike Girsch. “It’s no swing for a few days and then sort of regroup from there,” Girsch said. RHP Adam Wainwright (mid-back tightness) was placed on the DL, retroactive to July 23. . OF Stephen Piscotty (right groin strain) could start a rehab assignment at Class A Peoria on Thursday. . 1B Matt Carpenter (quad tightness) returned after missing Monday’s game.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Jeff Hoffman (6-2, 5.10 ERA) is to start Wednesday. He allowed seven runs in three innings against Pittsburgh in his last start but is 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA in five road starts this season.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (6-8, 3.34 ERA) enters Wednesday 4-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 10 home starts this season.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Randal Grichuk is riding his longest home run streak in the majors.

Grichuk hit a two-run homer, Mike Leake pitched seven scoreless innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 8-2 on Monday night.

Leake’s six-strikeout performance was his best since giving up one run over eight innings against Washington on June 30. It was the first win for Leake (7-8) against the Rockies since Aug. 10, 2011.

“That was the goal, attack their weaknesses,” Leake said. “Fortunately, today I was able to consistently hit my spots.”

Kevin Siegrist pitched the Cardinals out of a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth by getting Gerardo Parra to strike out and Mark Reynolds to fly out. Tyler Lyons struck out the side in the ninth.

The Cardinals improved to 20-5 against the Rockies at home since the 2010 season. Colorado fell to 3-14 in its last 17 road games.

Grichuk’s two-run homer off Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela (10-4) gave the Cardinals a 4-0 lead in the fourth, extending his home run streak to a career-high four games. He is the 11th player in the major leagues to have such a streak this season.

“It’s going to be a challenge for him every single day to lay off the high fast balls and the breaking balls low in the zone and once he gets a better handle on that, which I think he’s going to continue to improve on, he’s going to cause damage when he finds the ball,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

Grichuk’s home run binge came as soon as he was activated from the disabled list Friday. The DL stint followed an option down to Triple-A earlier this season, his second such option in as many seasons.

Matheny said Grichuk has taken each setback in stride.

“A lot of it is the mindset and he goes down with a plan to fix things and then stay the course,” Matheny said. “We’ve all been rewarded when he gets it right.”

Jose Martinez and Tommy Pham each hit solo home runs in the seventh off Chris Rusin to make it 6-0. It was Martinez’s second pinch-hit homer of the season and fourth total for St. Louis.

Dexter Fowler and Pham led off the bottom of the first with walks and both scored to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. Senzatela, who didn’t walk a batter will pitching a career-high eight innings against St. Louis on April 26, needed 39 pitches and Nolan Arenado’s diving catch that saved at least another run to get out of the first inning.

Senzatela lasted just four innings, matching his season low in a start. It was the second straight start in which he gave up four runs.

“From the start of the game I didn’t have my fastball command,” Senzatela said. “It was a real struggle for me.”

Jairo Diaz gave up two runs while walking a career-high three in one inning of relief.

Pat Valaika’s third career pinch-hit home run in the eighth was the Rockies’ offense, as Zach Duke failed to record an out in relief of Leake.

Rockies manager Bud Black said Leake pitched well.

“He was moving the ball around and the guy’s in the top ten in ERA for a reason,” Black said. “He’s a good pitcher. He kept the ball off the barrel.”

COACH ILL

Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster left Busch Stadium after feeling chest pains and went to a local hospital for precautionary reasons. He is expected to return Tuesday.

ARENADO HONORED

Arenado was named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending July 23. He hit .458 with four home runs, 13 RBI and nine runs scored to claim his fourth player of the week award.

TRAINING ROOM

Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (right calf strain) threw a simulated game Monday.

Cardinals: INF Matt Carpenter (quad) should start Tuesday after leaving Sunday night’s game at Chicago. C Eric Fryer was given his outright release after he elected free agency rather than a minor league assignment.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (3-1, 6.19 ERA) allowed a career-high nine earned runs over 3 1/3 innings in his lone career start against St. Louis on May 19, 2016. He is 3-1 with a 7.32 ERA over his past four starts.

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (8-6, 3.30 ERA) has held opponents to two runs or less in 14 starts this season. He is 2-2 with a 2.97 ERA in six career starts against Colorado.

— Associated Press —