In the ninth, Gagne and catcher Russell Martin became the first All-French-Canadian battery in the major leagues. Gagne struck out two in a perfect inning for his first save since June 12, 2005. The 2003 NL Cy Young pitching award winner returned May 30 from his second elbow surgery in an 11-month span, but had never thrown to Martin in a regular-season game.
Reds 7, Cardinals 0
At St. Louis, Eric Milton threw seven sharp innings and Cincinnati got homers from Felipe Lopez and Adam Dunn, beating St. Louis for its sixth straight win.
Lopez hit his sixth homer in the first off Chris Carpenter for a two-day cycle after hitting a double, triple and single in his last three at-bats on Monday. The Reds matched their season-best winning streak while slicing the Cardinals' National League Central lead to one game.
St. Louis has lost four of five overall.
Scott Rolen had two hits for the Cardinals, who are 1-2 since Albert Pujols went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle on his right side.
In other games it was: Phillies 10, Diamondbacks 1; Braves 5, Nationals 3; Brewers 5, Padres 1; Astros 4, Cubs 1; Rockies 5, Pirates 4; Giants 2, Marlins 1.
RSS