Monday’s Game Report: Reds 3, Cardinals 1
By Rob Rains
Life on the road did not get any better for the Cardinals on Monday night.
Andre Pallante gave up three runs over six innings but the offense was shut down after the first inning in losing the opener of a four-game series in Cincinnati.
The loss dropped the Cardinals to 2-12 away from Busch Stadium. The only team with fewer road wins so far this season is the Colorado Rockies, who are 1-14.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: After getting doubles from Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Arenado in the first inning, the Cardinals were limited to three hits the rest of the game … Their best scoring chance came in the fifth when Pedro Pages led off the inning with a double and Victor Scott II walked, but Masyn Winn bunted into a force out and Nootbaar hit into an inning-ending double play, one of three double plays turned by the Reds … Willson Contreras had a single in four at-bats to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games … Their last 10 batters were retired in order.
On the mound: Pallante allowed a home run to the Reds ninth-place hitter, Jose Trevino, in the third and gave up another run in each of the fourth and the sixth innings … Five of the Reds’ six hits off Pallante went for extra bases … Riley O’Brien and John King kept the game close over the seventh and eighth innings, with King stranding runners on second and third to end the seventh.
Key stat: Dating back to last year, the Cardinals have lost four consecutive games in Cincinnati, scoring a combined five runs. They have hit only one home run in those five games in a span of 127 at-bats.
Worth noting: The Cardinals optioned Thomas Saggese to Memphis before the game, despite his .341 average over 14 games, most of which came when Winn was on the injured list. They didn’t believe Saggese would get enough playing time to warrant a spot on the roster, wanting him to play every day in Triple A instead of being limited to a bench role in the majors … Jose Barrera was brought up from Memphis and to open a spot on the 40-man roster, right-handed reliever Ryan Loutos was designated for assignment.
Up next: Miles Mikolas will get the start on Tuesday night in the second game of the series.
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