Tyler Naquin And Donovan Solano Deliver Against Adam Wainwright And The Cardinals

 

Tyler Naquin drove in four runs with a single and triple and Donovan Solano drove in three to provide the Reds with an 9-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

"Oh man I love that," Naquin said.  "I like when guys are on base.  I think the break resets things.  It resets the mind.  I felt good tonight. I plan to ride that out."

The Reds faced its old foe Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals.  They were secure in the knowledge that they owned a 16-10 record against the Cardinals' long time ace.

His mound opponent Graham Ashcraft was making his 11th start and second against the Cardinals'  He had a no-decision in that one, giving up four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Red had a bad break in the first inning.  Catcher Tyler Stephenson took a foul ball off his right collarbone (clavical).  He tried to stay in the game but when Paul Goldschmidt his a slow roller in front of the plate.  Stephenson went to his knees in pain, unable to make the throw to first.  The catcher left the game with what proved to be a broken clavical.   Nolan Arenado reached Ashcraft for a double but the rookie right hander retired Nolan Gorman on a ground out.

"Stuff happens in baseball.  I had the freak concussion, the thumb and now the clavicle.  It is a tough position but it is one I've grown up playing.  I love to play it," Stephenson said.

"I thought the pain would go away but when I went to throw I couldn't do it," Stephenson said.  "I asked Graham what I said, He said I told him it popped.  I have to sleep in a chair.  I can feel the bones rub together.  The good thing is no surgery.  It just has to heal right."

The Cardinals broke through with two runs in the second inning. Brendon Donovan reached on an infield hit with one out. Lars Noosbaar walked. Austin Romine struck out but Tommy Edman walked to load the bases.  Tyler O'Neil delivered a two-run single past a diving Jonathan India.

"Graham was out there grinding, man," Naquin said.  It was good to pick him up.  He's got great stuff."

The Reds answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame.

MIchael Papierski walked in his first at bat.  Kyle Farmer his a double into the left center field gap.  Tyler Naquin tied the game with a two-run single and scored ahead of Donovan Solano's second home run of the season.

"The bottom of our order has been doing a really nice job," David Bell said.  "They've been a big part of our order -over the last few weeks. It takes the pressure off the other guys.  Getting contribution from everyone is really important."

Joey Votto added to the lead with a solo home run, his seventh in the third.

Ashcraft guarded the lead until the fifth.  He walked O'Neill and the National League's leading hitter launched a two-run home run.  It was his 21st of the year.

"From what has happened the last couple of outings It was a step in the right direction.  We handled it pretty good tonight," Ashcraft said.

The Reds opened the lead in the sixth.  Wainwright walked Papierski and Farmer with one out.  Naquin greeted Jordan Hicks, relieving the starter with a triple past a diving attempt by Dylan Carlson.  Solano's sacrifice fly to right pushed the Reds lead to 8-4.

India hit his fifth home run of the season against Johan Oviedo in the seventh. 

"Our bullpen did a really nice job.  They all got big outs," Bell said.

Reiver Sanmartin, Buck Farmer and Alexis Diaz pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings.  Ian Gibaut gave up a run in the eighth on Edman's single.  Hunter Strickland pitched a scoreless ninth. 

It was bitter sweet for the Reds losing a young hard hitting catcher who was improving day by day.

"It is tough losing anyone to injury.  Tyler is such a big part of our team.  He's going to be missed.  On the positive side, he has such a long career ahead of him.  If anyone can handle anything it is him," Bell said.

"Our dugout was very deflated. Our guys did a nice job of rallying around him and staying with it.  We played well the rest of the game."