Edman's grand slam lifts Cardinals over Reds 7-4

Tommy Edman snapped a sixth-inning tie with his first career grand slam and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 Thursday night for their fifth win in six games.

All-Star Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and Edman broke it open an inning later.

The slam came one pitch after the Reds just missed what would have been an inning-ending double play. Reliever Robert Stephenson retired pinch-hitter Yairo Munoz on a bases-loaded fly to right fielder Yasiel Puig, and Puig's throw home kept Matt Wieters at third. Catcher Juan Graterol's throw to first almost caught Kolten Wong off the bag, but Wong got his hand to the base a split-second before Joey Votto's tag.

St. Louis Cardinals' Tommy Edman celebrates after hitting a grand slam off Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Robert Stephenson during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)

Stephenson (2-2) allowed four hits and five runs while getting just two outs.

Eugenio Suarez hit a solo home run in the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in Cincinnati's two-run third as the Reds built a 3-0 lead.

DeJong got St. Louis on the board in the fifth with his first homer since June 16 and 14th this season.

St. Louis Cardinals' Tommy Edman, left, celebrates with Jose Martinez (38) after hitting a grand slam off Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Robert Stephenson during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)

Edman's blow gave Dakota Hudson the win. Hudson (9-4) gave up six hits and three runs with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings. He's 7-1 over his last 11 starts. Hudson also hit a batter.

Reds starter Tanner Roark sparked their two-run third with a leadoff double. He pitched five innings, allowing five hits and two runs with two walks, a hit batter and six strikeouts — three of Paul Goldschmidt, including to end the fifth with runners on first and third with two outs.

The Reds are 2-5 since the All-Star break and dropped eight games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.

St. Louis Cardinals' Dexter Fowler celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina will wait at least three weeks before his right thumb tendon strain is re-evaluated. Molina has been on the 10-day IL since July 8.

Reds: OF Nick Senzel is expected to miss a couple of days but avoid the IL after leaving Wednesday's game with right hamstring tightness. ... RHP David Hernandez was placed on the 10-day IL with right shoulder fatigue.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Robert Stephenson gets the ball after giving up an RBI single to St. Louis Cardinals' Paul DeJong during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright's (6-7) 5.01 ERA in 30 career appearances against Cincinnati is his highest against any NL opponent.

Reds: RHP Tyler Mahle (2-10) set career highs by allowing 12 hits and 10 runs over 4-1/3 innings in his last start on Sunday at Colorado.

Cincinnati Reds' Tanner Roark runs home to score on a single by Joey Votto off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dakota Hudson during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 18, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)

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Paul Goldschmidt helped slow down rookie fireballer Hunter Greene, Steven Matz pitched one-run ball over five innings and the St. Louis Cardinals stretched the Cincinnati Reds' losing streak to 10 games with a 4-2 victory Friday night.

Greene delivered 39 fastballs at least 100 mph in his previous start, the most in a game since pitch tracking began in 2008, but the 22-year-old topped out at 97.2 mph Friday.

Goldschmidt and the Cardinals took advantage. The veteran slugger had three hits and two RBIs. Both runs were charged to Greene (1-2), who walked four and was charged with three runs over 3 1/3 innings.

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt hits a two-run single during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, on Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoAaron Doster)

Matz (2-1) and the bullpen made the lead stick, with the right-hander striking out six and allowing seven hits before leaving with no outs and a man on in the sixth.

Decimated by free agent departures, trades and injuries, the Reds have their worst skid since losing 11 straight in 2016. Brandon Drury's RBI single in the fifth snapped a scoring drought of 16 innings.

Cincinnati scored another in the ninth on a fielder's choice groundout by Kyle Farmer, but Drury flied out to center as Giovanny Gallegos closed out his fourth save.

St. Louis Cardinals' Steven Matz throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoAaron Doster)

The Reds have been outscored 63-20 during the current slide.

Greene had been one of the few bright spots during Cincinnati's 2-12 start, but the zip was missing from his fastball in his home debut. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first after the Cardinals pushed a run across on back-to-back hits by Dylan Carlson and Goldschmidt and an error by left fielder Tommy Pham.

St. Louis loaded the bases again with one out in the fourth. Greene was pulled in favor of Jeff Hoffman, who gave up a two-run single to Goldschmidt.

St. Louis Cardinals' Tommy Edman, left, throws to first after forcing out Cincinnati Reds' Aramis Garcia at second base, completing a double play on Colin Moran during the second inning of a baseball game in Cincinnati, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoAaron Doster)

The Cardinals took the opener of the weekend series after winning 2 of 3 against the Miami Marlins this week.

MOVES

Cardinals: Made their first roster move since opening day, placing RHP Drew VerHagen (right hip impingement) on the 10-day injured list and recalling LHP Packy Naughton from Triple-A Memphis.

Cincinnati Reds' Hunter Greene throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoAaron Doster)

Reds: Activated RHP Lucas Sims from the injured list. RHP Ryan Hendrix was sent to Triple-A.

UP NEXT

The Cards send RHP Dakota Hudson (0-1, 7.71) against Reds RHP Tyler Mahle (1-1, 7.82) on Saturday.

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St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado fields a ball hit by Cincinnati Reds' Nick Senzel, before throwing to second base for a force out on Joey Votto during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cincinnati, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoAaron Doster)

Cincinnati Reds' Brandon Drury hits an RBI single during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Cincinnati, Friday, April 22, 2022. (AP PhotoAaron Doster)