St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports Spencer Steele hit two home runs and drove in a career-high five runs on Monday, and Eli De La Cruz had a homer and a double to lead the host Cincinnati Reds to 6-6. 1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series.
It was Steele’s first career multi-home run game. Jake Fraley also scored twice with a single, walk and stolen base for Cincinnati, which won its second straight game.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott (10-9) shook off base trouble in the second and third innings to snap a three-game losing streak. Abbott retired 11 batters from the third to seventh inning, allowing one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.
Jakob Junis finished with 2 1/3 hitless innings while striking out three without a save.
Paul Goldschmidt had a double and a single for St. Louis, which lost its second straight game. Sonny Gray (11-7) struck out five of the first six batters he faced and allowed six runs on five hits in five innings, tying his season high. He took two steps and fanned nine steps.
St. Louis took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Nolan Arenado’s RBI single. He struck out Willson Contreras, who advanced to second after walking Tommy Pham.
In the second half of the third quarter, Steele and De La Cruz hit consecutive home runs, giving Cincinnati a 3-1 lead. Steele hit a two-run shot to left, and De La Cruz hit a 399-footer into the left-center stands for his 21st home run of the season.
Steele hit his 18th home run, led by Fraley, who had a single in the leadoff, and Will Benson, who walked. The Reds extended their lead to 6-1 in the fifth inning. .
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