Eric Fryer’s two-out RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Cardinals to a 4-3 victory over the Reds on Sunday afternoon and gave them two of three in the series. Cincinnati will return home having lost five of its six games on the road trip.
When the Cardinals summoned Aledmys Diaz to pinch-hit to lead off the eighth, the Reds removed left-handed reliever Tony Cingrani in favor of right-hander Ross Ohlendorf. Diaz drew the walk before Ohlendorf picked up the next two outs. On a 1-0 count, Fryer lined a fastball through the gap in left-center field that scored Diaz from first base with the go-ahead run.
“[Fryer] was able to get one between the outfielders, which other than one over the fence or right down the line is the only way he’s going to get that runner in from first,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “But he came up with the big hit, that’s what it came down to. They had the last big play and they executed. That was the difference.”
Said Fryer: “I know Ohlendorf likes to come at guys with his fastball, especially away. I was looking out over the plate and he ran one out over the plate probably a little more than he wanted to, and I got the head through and put a good swing on it.”
Cardinals lefty reliever Kevin Siegrist struck out three over 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory. Trevor Rosenthal struck out a pair in a perfect ninth for his third save. St. Louis has won seven of its last nine games.
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