Paul Goldschmidt provided most of the offense and St. Louis Cardinal ace Adam Wainwright struggled through 5 2/3 innings to even the series with an 8-5 win.
Goldschmidt came into the game in a 1-for-21 slump. That ended in his first at bat against Graham Ashcraft. The reigning National League Most Valuable Player launched his eighth home run of the season to left field.
David Bell re-arranged a lineup that has scored 205 runs in 47 games in the first inning an average of 4.3 runs per game.
He moved Jonathan India out of the leadoff spot and replaced by TJ Friedl who has recovered from a lat injury. Friedl a left handed batter, will be separated by two right handed batters from Jake Fraley.
"We wanted to separate the left handers in the lineup, not to make it too easy for the other team to bring a left hander in for both of those guys," Bell said before the game.
The Reds scored in the first inning for the fourth straight game. With two outs, India batting third, singled. Fraley drove him home with a double to the left centerfield gap off Wainwright.
St. Louis parlayed three singles and a sacrifice fly into two runs in the second inning. Goldschmidt homered again in the third, it is the third multi-home run game of the season for Goldschmidt and third this season.
"I'm going to have to look at some film," Ashcraft said. "It seamed like there were some at bats, they were just sitting on the first pitch and it just happened to be what we were throwing. I think they had their game plan and they attacked me really well. They beat me tonight."
Nolan Arenado and manager Oliver Marmol were ejected by home plate umpire Will Little for arguing balls and strikes.
Matt McLain hit his first Major League home run with Friedl on second base with a double.
"The first one was cool. I signed a baseball for a fan. I will send it to my parents. I still want my first stolen base. I got thrown out today," McClain said.
Graham Ashcraft was hit hard for the fourth straight game, allowing three more runs in the fourth. He hit Paul DeJong with a pitch. Brendan Donovan doubled. Tommy Edman tripled to drive home two runs. Edman scored on a ground out.
"We will have to take a closer look at it," Bell said "He obviously gave up some hard hit balls, more than we are used to seeing. He's healthy. The velo is there. We just have to help him through it. I have zero concern about Graham not being able to fight through this."
Kevin Newman led off the fifth with a single. Friedl hit his second double and McLain drove in his third run of the game with a ground ball to second. Spencer Steer extended his hitting streak to six games with a two-out single. Nick Senzel doubled him home with two outs in the sixth.
Wainwright allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings but got his second win of the season.
Ashcraft finished the fifth but allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits, and a hit batter. He struck out five.
Wainwright came into the game with a 10-17 career record against the Reds. The Reds are the only team to have a winning record against him with more than one decision. Wainwright is 0-1 against Baltimore, the New York Yankees and Texas. He has a winning record against 25 other teams.
Silvino Bracho and Alan Busenitz kept the game close. Bracho pitched two scoreless innings Busenitz was touched for a run in the ninth after a scoreless eighth.
Cardinal closer Ryan Helsley, who was the losing pitcher Monday, got two quick outs but Newman singled and Friedl walked to bring McLain to the plate representing the tying run. McLain walked to load the bases bringing India to the plate. India forced McLain at second to end the game.
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