Reds grab 5th straight win, 3-1 over Cardinals

Nick Martinez pitched six sparkling innings, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 on Monday night for their fifth straight win.

Martinez (1-3) allowed one run and five hits in the opener of a seven-game homestand. Graham Ashcraft and Tony Santillan each got three outs before Emilio Pagán finished the five-hitter for his eighth save.

Jose Trevino homered for Cincinnati, and Noelvi Marte drove in the go-ahead run with his first career triple.

Reds star Elly De La Cruz doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games, and Gavin Lux collected three hits, including two doubles, to run his hitting streak to a career-best 12.

St. Louis right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

Lars Nootbaar doubled and scored on Nolan Arenado’s two-out double in the first against Martinez. But the Reds tied it when Trevino hit a leadoff drive in the third for his second homer.

Miles Mikolas (0-2, 5.70 ERA) starts Tuesday for the Cardinals. Brady Singer (4-0, 3.62 ERA) goes for the Reds, who have scored 42 runs in his five starts.



(AP Photo Kareem Elgazzar)