Cincinnati Reds Beat Cardinals Behind Adam Duvall’s Late HR

W: J.J. Hoover (8-1)

L: Jonathan Broxton (2-5)

SV: Aroldis Chapman (30)

In a game that ended nearly 18 hours after it began, the Cincinnati Reds came away victorious over the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-2.

The game began on Friday at 7:10 p.m., but the rains came in the eighth inning with the teams tied at two and action was suspended until Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Once the game resumed, it didn’t take long to conclude. A two-run home run to right field by Reds left fielder Adam Duvall broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman overmatched Cardinals hitters in the ninth, striking out the side.

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Before the action was halted on Friday, the two teams played in a back-and-forth affair. The Reds got on the board first when Billy Hamilton led off the game with a bunt single, stole second, moved to third on an error by catcher Yadier Molina and scored on a single by Brandon Phillips. The run was answered in the second when Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey brought home a run on a ground out.

Ramon Cabrera helped the Reds retake the lead in the bottom of the second with a solo home run, the first of his major league career. That would be the final time the Reds would score until Duvall’s home run, as Lackey allowed only three more hits through the seventh inning, while striking out 10 total batters.

The Cardinals would tie the game up once again in the fourth when Greg Garcia hit a solo shot of his own, and the score remained locked at two.

Michael Lorenzen started the game long ago for the Reds, and again had trouble getting deep into a game. He gave up 10 hits and a walk through five innings of work, but was able to limit the Cardinals to two runs. Lorenzen also struck out five.

Brandon Finnegan relieved Lorenzen, appearing in his first game as a Red. The southpaw fired two perfect innings, striking out two. J.J. Hoover followed Finnegan and the first batter he faced reached when Eugenio Suarez dropped a routine pop-up as the rain came pouring down. The game was delayed at the point, and later suspended.

Hoover was back on the mound when play resumed on Saturday and pitched through the eighth unscathed to pick up the win. He struck out Molina to start the day, and pinch runner Pete Kozma was caught stealing by Cabrera for a double play. Hoover then walked a batter to keep the inning alive, but fanned Garcia to get out of it.

Other Notes:

• The Reds ran wild off of Lackey and Molina, stealing four bases against the duo. Hamilton and Joey Votto accounted for all four steals, swiping two bases each. Hamilton now has 58 stolen bases, while Votto has 10.
• Hamilton and Votto also had big days at the plate, both reaching base three times. Hamilton had two singles and a double, while Votto walked three times.
• Duvall now has three hits in his 16 plate appearances with the Reds, all home runs.

Up Next: The NL Central rivals are set to play their regularly scheduled game at 1:30 p.m. Anthony DeSclafani will make the start for the Reds, while Lance Lynn will take the mound for the Cardinals.

Next: Reds rout Cardinals, Lamb picks up first MLB win