Cardinals stay hot at plate, clobber Reds

CINCINNATI -- Shortstop Pete Kozma couldn't explain the Cardinals' recent proficiency for coming through in the clutch. "We get hits when we need them," Kozma said, matter-of-factly. It's not that easy. It just seems simple for first-place St. Louis.

Right-hander Adam Wainwright pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs, and Kozma went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in lifting the Cardinals to a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night in the opener of a three-game weekend series.

The Cardinals, who improved to a major-league best 21-9 on the road, now lead the NL Central by a season-high four games over both the Reds and Pirates.

St. Louis went 8-for-19 with runners in scoring position and scored five of its runs after two outs.

"I don't want to sound like a broken record ... two-out hits again," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. "We've gotten into the habit of grinding out at-bats and not giving any away. It's a simple approach."

First baseman Allen Craig had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, and third baseman David Freese has a 17-game streak after going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI for St. Louis.

Kozma's two-run double highlighted a four-run sixth inning that broke the game open for the Cardinals.

Matt Carpenter extended his hitting streak to 16 games with an RBI single in the sixth, putting St. Louis ahead 7-0.

Cincinnati dropped to 2-5 this season against the Cardinals, including three straight losses.

"They can just hit," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "Call it whatever you want. I don't have a whole lot to say. It's discouraging to get your butt kicked ... that's enough."

The Cardinals provided more than enough run support for Wainwright (9-3), who walked one and fanned seven. He allowed just one hit through five innings.

The turning point for Wainwright came in the third inning when he walked Reds leadoff batter Shin-Soo Choo after a 12-pitch at-bat, but got Zack Cozart to ground into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.

"I hate walking people, but I didn't mind there to keep the double play situation," Wainwright said. "I threw (Choo) a lot of tough pitches that he fouled off. I wasn't going to walk Cozart with (Joey) Votto up next."

Wainwright had six strikeouts through four innings, including three in the second.

"The thing with him is he mixes his pitches up so well," said Reds third baseman Todd Frazier of Wainwright. "I think his curveball is his best pitch. It starts out like a fastball and then it waves and the bottom drops out. He never hangs one."

Jay Bruce's RBI single in the sixth drove home Cozart with the Reds' first run. Choo added an RBI single in the seventh to cap the scoring for Cincinnati.

Catcher Devin Mesoraco had two of the Reds' seven hits, including a double.

Reds starter Mike Leake (5-3) lost for the first time since May 8. The Cardinals scored three times off him in the fourth.

Carlos Beltran led off the inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to eight games, then scored the first run on Freese's single to left. Jon Jay and Kozma had RBI singles to put St. Louis ahead 3-0. All three runs scored after two outs.

"That's when they usually do their damage," said Baker. "I'd like to find out their secret and bottle it."

The Cardinals had several lengthy at-bats against Leake, including a 12-pitch at-bat in the fourth by Craig. Leake allowed three runs on six hits, needing 97 pitches to get through his five innings.

"He threw him everything but the kitchen sink," Baker said of Craig's at-bat. "That's how you wear a guy down and get him out of the game."

NOTES: Beltran left the game after six innings after "tweaking" his leg, said Matheny. He went 1-for-4 and struck out to end the sixth before exiting. ... Reds 2B Brandon Phillips returned to the starting lineup Friday after he missed four games with a bruised left forearm after being hit by a pitch on June 2 in Pittsburgh. ... The Reds optioned RHP Pedro Villarreal to Triple-A Louisville on Friday and recalled INF Henry Rodriguez. Villarreal made an emergency start on Wednesday when RHP Johnny Cueto was placed on the DL. ... The Cardinals announced that Jeanine Duncan, wife of longtime pitching coach Dave Duncan, passed away Thursday evening after a long bout with brain cancer. ... Freese's single in the fourth inning extended his hitting streak to a career-long 17 games.