Reds deck Cards 7-4 to stop 5-game slide

Austin Hays hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and Matt McLain went deep for the second consecutive game to back a solid start by Brady Singer as the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 on Sunday to snap a five-game skid and avoid a series sweep.

Cardinals rookie Jimmy Crooks homered off Sam Moll in the seventh for his first big league hit in his first start behind the plate to cut it to 5-4.

Andre Pallante (6-13) gave up five runs — two earned — on six hits and four walks in five innings. St. Louis has lost 12 of Pallante’s last 13 starts.

Cardinals rookie Jimmy Crooks homered off Sam Moll in the seventh for his first big league hit in his first start behind the plate.

Cardinals RHP Sonny Gray (12-7, 4.19) pitches Monday in the first of three against the Athletics, who will send out rookie RHP Luis Morales (2-0, 1.19).



(AP Photo Abdoul Sow)