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.

Click to Gallery

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)

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.
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)

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

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

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

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)
More Images
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)

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.

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)

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.

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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)

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)

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)