Sal Stewart takes MLB RBI lead as Reds edge Cardinals

Matt McLain had three hits and sparked a three-run rally and Sal Stewart belted a three-run homer to rally the Cincinnati Reds past the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, Wednesday night.

Stewart belted a three-run home run off St. Louis starter and loser Matthew Liberatore to erase a two-run deficit and give the Reds a 3-2 lead after six innings. Liberatore had allowed just one hit over his first five shutout innings before McLain doubled and Elly De La Cruz singled to set the stage for Stewart's 27th homer of the season.

McLain also laid down a perfect bunt in the eighth inning that he beat out for a hit, adding an insurance run.

Liberatore (5-11) retired his first eight batters before McLain singled in the third. The St. Louis lefty then set down the next eight before McLain's double sparked Cincinnati's sixth-inning rally. Liberatore was charged with the three runs on four hits in six innings, striking out nine and walking none.

With the home run, Stewart reached 102 RBIs in his Cincinnati career, dating to 2025. He became the third-fastest player in franchise history to 100 RBIs. He also took the MLB lead with 94 RBIs for the season. Sam Moll (2-7) pitched a scoreless sixth to earn the win.

Cincinnati lefty reliever Brock Burke worked around a pair of walks to escape a first-and-third two-out jam in the seventh. Luis Mey threw a scoreless eighth before Emilio Pagan surrendered a two-run homer to Jordan Walker and allowed the tying run to reach third base.

But with heavy rain falling, Pagan fielded a grounder just to the third-base side of the mound and retired Masyn Winn by a step for his 16th save in 19 chances.

Cincinnati starter Chase Burns was helped out by an outstanding relay play from center fielder Dane Myers to shortstop Elly De La Cruz to nail a runner at the plate and keep the game scoreless to end the top of the third.

Burns went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight.

--Field Level Media