Cardinals erupt for 8 runs vs. Reds to win first game of doubleheader

Victor Scott II went 3-for-4, and Ivan Herrera went 2-for-3 with two runs in an 8-1 win for the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a doubleheader against the host Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Starting pitcher Andre Pallante (5-4) gave up one run on two hits in six innings for the Cardinals, who had lost two straight.

Starter Chris Paddack (0-6) yielded three runs on seven hits for the Reds, who had won two in a row.

Nathaniel Lowe led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run into the seats in right field to give Cincinnati a 1-0 lead.

St. Louis responded in the top of the third and never looked back.

JJ Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera each walked, and Alec Burleson followed with a single that deflected off the glove of shortstop Elly De La Cruz into center field, driving in Wetherholt to tie it 1-1.

Jordan Walker grounded into a forceout that scored Herrera and put the Cardinals ahead 2-1.

In the fourth, Masyn Winn and Bryan Torres singled, with Torres' marking his first hit in his major league debut. Scott loaded the bases with a single to right.

Wetherholt then knocked a single that went off Lowe's glove into right field, allowing Winn to score for a 3-1 advantage.

St. Louis added runs in the seventh against reliever Connor Phillips. Herrera drew a lead-off walk and stole second with Burleson at the plate before the first baseman flied out. Walker then belted a home run over the wall in right-center to make it 5-1.

In the eighth, Scott singled and scored on Herrera's triple to deep right center to push it to 6-1.

Torres launched a two-run shot to right-center field to extend it to 8-1 in the ninth inning.

The Reds struggled to get anything going after the second, when they notched both of their hits, going out in order from the third through the sixth. They wouldn't get another baserunner until Eugenio Suarez drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh.

, who had won two in a row.

Nathaniel Lowe led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run into the seats in right field to give Cincinnati a 1-0 lead.

St. Louis responded in the top of the third and never looked back.

JJ Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera each walked, and Alec Burleson followed with a single that deflected off the glove of shortstop Elly De La Cruz into center field, driving in Wetherholt to tie it 1-1.

Jordan Walker grounded into a forceout that scored Herrera and put the Cardinals ahead 2-1.

In the fourth, Masyn Winn and Bryan Torres singled, with Torres' marking his first hit in his major league debut. Scott loaded the bases with a single to right.

Wetherholt then knocked a single that went off Lowe's glove into right field, allowing Winn to score for a 3-1 advantage.

St. Louis added to it in the seventh against reliever Connor Phillips. Herrera drew a lead-off walk and stole second with Burleson at the plate before the first baseman flied out. Walker then belted a home run over the wall in right center to make it 5-1.

In the eighth, Scott singled and scored on Herrera's triple to deep right-center to push it to 6-1.

Torres launched a two-run shot to right-center field to extend it to 8-1 in the ninth inning. It was his first MLB home run.

The Reds struggled to get anything going after the second, when they notched both of their hits, going out in order from the third through the sixth. They didn't get another baserunner until Eugenio Suarez drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh.

--Field Level Media