Cardinals 2 - 4 Reds
Final
  for this game

Simon leads Reds over Cardinals

Sep 11, 2014 - 2:36 AM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Alfredo Simon threw seven strong innings and knocked in the go-ahead run with one of his two doubles, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

Simon (14-10) gave up two first-inning runs but settled down to allow just five hits and three walks while striking out five. He snapped a two-start losing streak, winning for only the second time in his last 11 outings.

"He was a little erratic early, but he rallied and did a super job," said Reds manager Bryan Price.

Ryan Ludwick hit a solo homer for the Reds, who have won the last two games of this four-game series after dropping the first.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals have lost two in a row on the heels of a 9-1 stretch.

Cardinals starter John Lackey was ejected with no outs in the third inning, apparently for arguing balls and strikes.

Home plate umpire Tom Hallion appeared to be reacting to something Lackey said from the mound after Hallion called a ball on a 2-1 changeup to Brayan Pena.

Tyler Lyons replaced Lackey on the mound with no outs and threw 2 1/3 innings, giving up the go-ahead run in the fourth on Simon's sliced double into the right-field corner, the pitcher's second two-base hit of the night.

It was Simon's second RBI in 71 career plate appearances to that point -- both coming this season.

Seth Maness relieved Lyons (0-4) with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth inning and surrendered an RBI single to Brandon Phillips that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead. Pena was thrown out at home on the play.

Sam LeCure got two outs in the eighth inning for Cincinnati and Ryan Dennick came in to get the third, stranding two runners. Aroldis Chapman struck out two in the ninth for his 32nd save of the season.

Matt Adams hit an RBI double and scored on Oscar Tavares' single to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Todd Frazier drove in Cincinnati's first run with a single in the bottom of the inning and Ludwick's line-drive homer tied the score in the second.

Game Notes

Entering the game, Simon had six hits in 62 career at-bats for an .097 average. It was his first career multi-hit game ... The Reds were 1-9 in Simon's previous 10 starts ... It was Ludwick's ninth homer of the season ... Lackey was making his eighth start for the Cardinals since being acquired in a trade with Boston in July ... The Reds received minor-league right-handers Kevin Shackelford and Barrett Astin from the Brewers on Wednesday to complete the Aug. 31 trade that sent veteran reliever Jonathan Broxton to Milwaukee.






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