Jonathan India and TJ Friedl each hit two home runs to help the Cincinnati Reds complete a three-game sweep of the visiting St. Louis Cardinals with a 9-2 victory on Wednesday.
Tyler Stephenson also homered for Cincinnati, which has won four straight and outscored the Cardinals 19-4 during the three-game series. India had three hits and four RBIs.
Masyn Winn, Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan each had two hits for St. Louis, which lost its fourth straight and fell a game under .500 (60-61) for the first time since June 19.
Cincinnati jumped on Cardinals starter Kyle Gibson (7-5) for four runs in the third inning.
After India snapped an 0-for-23 slump with a three-run homer to left-center field, Elly De La Cruz fouled out before Stephenson homered.
The Reds extended their lead with three runs in the fifth inning. India hit a leadoff homer and Friedl added a two-out solo blast.
Gibson was then replaced by John King with a runner on and two outs. Jeimer Candelario reached on a throwing error and Spencer Steer advanced to third before Jake Fraley singled in a run to give the Reds a 7-0 lead.
Gibson pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits while walking two and fanning six. He tied his career high with four home runs allowed.
St. Louis got on the board with two runs in the sixth inning. Winn hit a leadoff double and scored on a single by Alec Burleson.
Contreras followed with a single and Burleson scored from second on Nolan Arenado’s single.
The Reds tacked on a run in the eighth inning when Noelvi Marte singled and scored on De La Cruz’s two-out double against Matthew Liberatore.
Cincinnati opener Emilio Pagan pitched two scoreless innings before Sam Moll (3-1) struck out two in a scoreless third inning.
Carson Spiers allowed two runs over the next 2 2/3 innings and Justin Wilson, Buck Farmer, Fernando Cruz followed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings.
–Field Level Media