Cardinals Bullpen Holds Lead As Earning Win Over Reds - Is There Time Left

The St. Louis Cardinals bullpen made an unearned and an unearned run stand up for a 3-1 win over the Reds.

The Reds lost three of the four games in the series and has now lost seven of the ten games since the All-Star break.   The Reds were just 4-1/2 games out after the break but are fading in a winnable National League Central Division.

While the prospects for the season look bleak right now.  They are one-game better at this point than they were last season after 97 games.  They feel they have enough time but it is urgent they get better quickly.

"We're not anywhere close to where we want to be. For us the process is going the right way but for us the results are we are either in the playoffs and win the world series or we're not," David Bell said. "On the other hand we do have a long way to go.  We don't have to win 10 games in a row.  We have to find a way to win consistently and we have enough time."

The Cardinals scored two runs off DeSclafani in the second inning.

Tyler O'Neil singled to open the inning and stole second.  Yairo Munoz singled past Scooter Gennett at second base and O'Neil scored.  Andrew Knizner singled.  Munoz and Knizner pulled a double steal.  Munoz scored on an error by Eugenio Suarez at third.

"Anthony pitched as well as he possibly could," Bell said. "That inning cost him for sure.  A couple not so hard hit balls and the error.  Other than that he continues to get errors."

DeSclafani retired 10 straight batters after the error, giving up a leadoff single to Dexter Fowler in the sixth.  He struck out secona career high 11 batters before he was removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth.

DeSclafani was working with a new catcher and the Cardinals took advantage with four stolen bases in their two-run inning.

"I have to be more aware of the runners.  That falls on me," DeSclafani said.  "I talked to Lavarnway yesterday for a couple innings about what I like to do with my pitches.  I know he did some work on his own, talking to Curt and Farmer.  He's a smart guy.  He's got a lot of experience.  I was comfortable with him."

Jack Flaherty started for the Cardinals.  He had runners on in every inning but didn't give up the big hit.  He walked two in the first.  He gave up a two out singled to DeSclafani in the second inning.  Joey Votto and Suarez hit one out singles in the third.  Flaherty pitched around a leadoff single by Gennett in the fourth.  With the aid of Giovanny Gallegos, Flaherty escaped a bases loaded, no-out jam in the fifth.

Winker doubled to start the fifth.   Votto singled sharply to left.  Suarez was hit by a pitch in the rib cage.  Yasiel Puig worked a full count but popped up in the infield.  Saturday night's hero, Josh VanMeter and Gennett struck out swinging against Gallegos.

"You get in that situation, (bases loaded no outs) its a competition," Bell said  "The Cardinals won that competition.  It turned out that was the difference in the game."

Lucas Sims replaced DeSclafani in the seventh.  Munoz hit a leadoff triple but Sims left him stranded at third.

Phillip Ervin made it a one-run game with his first career pinch hit home run and his second home run of the season.  It came off a 3-2 pitch from Andrew Miller.

Munoz pushed the lead back to two with his second home run.  Raisel Iglesias, who just returned from paternity leave gave up Munoz' round tripper, his third hit.

"We wanted to get Raisel in there after four days off, Bell said."