Molina hits go-ahead homer; Cards hold off Reds

ST. LOUIS — 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.

BRAVES 4, METS 3 Johan Camargo tripled home the tying run, then scored on Ender Inciarte’s bunt single as the Atlanta Braves scored twice in the ninth inning off Mets closer Jeurys Familia to beat New York. Familia issued a leadoff walk to Dansby Swanson and Camargo followed with a triple that made it 3-all. With one out and runners at the corners, Inciarte put down a bunt to the right side. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez made a quick throw home, but Camargo was already across the plate with a headfirst dive.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

TIGERS 12, ROYALS 4 Nicholas Castellanos homered and drove in three runs, and the Detroit Tigers routed the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers have won five of six. Detroit broke a 3-all tie with three runs in the fifth on a day when both starting pitchers were in almost constant trouble. Mike Fiers (2-1) allowed two earned runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings for the Tigers, and Royals starter Danny Duffy (0-3) yielded six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. YANKEES 9, BLUE JAYS 1 Aaron Judge hit an early homer off respected Twitter rival Marcus Stroman, then scored on a disputed play during a seven-run burst in the sixth inning that sent the New York Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays. Judge put the Yankees up 2-0 with his sixth homer, a two-run drive in the third.

ASTROS 10, WHITE SOX 1 Josh Reddick hit a grand slam and solo homer, and the Houston Astros pounded the reeling Chicago White Sox for their fifth straight win. Already struggling on the field — and especially on the mound — the White Sox were dealt another blow Saturday when they learned that reliever Danny Farquhar suffered a brain hemorrhage while collapsing in the dugout Friday night. Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, cruised to his first victory after being staked to a big lead early. Keuchel (1-3) allowed one run and four hits in six innings while striking out six.

INDIANS 4, ORIOLES 0 Mike Clevenger pitched a two-hitter in his first career complete game, and the Cleveland Indians hit three solo homers off Chris Tillman in a victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Jose Ramirez went 3 for 4 with his team-leading fifth home run. Yan Gomes and Yonder Alonso also went deep for Cleveland, which came into the game ranked second-to-last in the AL in runs and last in batting average. Clevenger (2-0) hardly needed the offensive support. Pitching on seven days’ rest, the right-hander struck out three, walked two and allowed only one runner past first base.

Upcoming Events