Reds beat Cards 11-6, keep wild card hopes alive

Tyler Stephenson hit a bases-clearing double in the ninth inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-6 on Monday night to close within two games of the New York Mets for the last NL wild card.

Cincinnati scored eight runs in the final three innings and ended a three-game losing streak, getting back to .500 at 75-75.

St. Louis has lost six of seven, falling to 73-78 and 4 1/2 games behind the Mets.

Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, recovered from a strained right shoulder that had sidelined him since July 30, singled on the first pitch he saw and added his first double at home since April 14. First baseman Willson Contreras was removed for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning because of tightness in his right biceps.

St. Louis led 4-3 in the seventh before Matt McLain hit a two-run double and scored on TJ Friedl’s single. The Cardinals tied the score 6-6 in the bottom half on RBI singles by Brendan Donovan and Iván Herrera.

Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (9-6, 2.79 ERA) and Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (6-3, 4.44) start Tuesday.



(AP Photo Jeff Roberson)