“We came out swinging,” India said. “Big win for us, but we need to keep going. You know we’ve been doing this the last four series, we win big the first game and then it doesn’t turn out great the next.”
Reds starter Andrew Abbott (7-6) was the winner, allowing two runs on two hits and six walks in five innings. Cincinnati won for the second time in six games.
“Probably one of the worst games I’ve pitched in my life,” Abbott said. “Just all over the place with timing, mechanic-wise. But yeah, team picked me up and we got a win. That’s all that matters.”
Miles Mikolas (6-7) lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing at least one run in each inning he pitched in. He gave up a career-high 10 runs, nine of them earned, on 12 hits and a walk.
Noelvi Marte, in his first game back for the Reds after serving an 80-game suspension for banned substances, had three hits, scored three runs and drove in another.
“Not hitting spots, kind of stunk out there,” Mikolas said. “Bullpen a little short-staffed, today was not a good day for me to stink. Work my tail off in between starts, make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Steer’s homer in the fourth made it 7-2 Reds and Benson and Fairchild each had an RBI double to extend the lead to 10-2 in the fifth.
Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer in the third for St. Louis, his first since June 5. Brendan Donovan and Dylan Carlson added RBI doubles in the eighth, as the Cardinals lost for the second time in their last seven games.
Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson was a late scratch from the lineup and was replaced by Luke Maile. Stephenson left the game to be with his pregnant wife.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will send RHP Andre Pallante (3-3, 5.23 ERA) to the mound in the second of a four-game series against the Reds and RHP Frankie Montas (3-5, 4.48 ERA) on Friday night. Coverage from Busch Stadium begins at 6:20 with Ameran Total Access. Friday’s game can be heard on KTLO AM 1240 with first pitch scheduled for 7:15.
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