Wainwright's gem leads Cards' sweep of Cincinnati

     CINCINNATI — After brawling with the Cincinnati Reds the previous day, the St. Louis Cardinals brought out the brooms Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, completing a three-game sweep of the Reds with a 6-1 victory, taking sole possession of first place in the NL Central.

     St. Louis' Adam Wainwright  (17-6) held the Reds in check, pitching seven innings. Wainwright allowed just two hits, walking none, while striking out four to lower his ERA to 1.99.

     The game went in favor of the Cardinals in the top of the fifth inning when Colby Rasmus hit a two-out grand slam over the centerfield wall for a 4-0 St. Louis lead. The home run was his 19th of the season and his first career grand slam.

     Cincinnati (64-51) struggled at the plate the entire three-game series, but on Wednesday tallied a total of five hits, three against the Cardinals' bullpen.

     The lone Cincinnati run came in the bottom of the eighth when Joey Votto singled a line drive to left field, scoring Brandon Phillips with two outs.

     Gaining hits for the Reds were Phillips, Paul Janish, Votto, Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce.

     The Cardinals added to their lead in the top of the seventh with Yadier Molina singling to centerfield, scoring Matt Holliday.

     The sixth and final St. Louis run crossed home with Skip Schumaker hitting a ground ball base hit to left field, allowing Rasmus to score.

     Bronson Arroyo suffered the loss. Arroyo (12-7) pitched just five innings, allowing six hits, four runs (all earned) and three walks. Arroyo finished with two strikeouts with his ERA jumping to 3.94.

     Arroyo worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning when Holliday, Schumaker and Wainwright loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Arroyo battled his way out of the inning unscathed with a strikeout of Brendan Ryan to end the inning.

     For St. Louis, John Jay was 2-for-5, raising his average to .372. Albert Pujols was 0-for-4 with one walk and one run. Schumaker finished 3-for-4 with one RBI. Holliday, Molina and Wainwright each had one hit.

     The win puts the Cardinals at 64-49 in sole possession of first place in the NL Central. They will now return to Busch Stadium to host rival Chicago Cubs in a three-game weekend series.

     In the three-game set at GABP, the Cardinals outscored the Reds 21-8 with a 7-3 win Monday and 8-4 victory Tuesday.

     On Wednesday, the Reds left six batters on the bases. St. Louis stranded eight. The Reds and Cardinals will play one more series this season, in St. Louis, on Sept. 3-5.          

Friday, the Reds, who are one game out of first place in the NL Central, will start a weekend series with the Florida Marlins (56-56). Edinson Volquez (2-1, 4.94) is scheduled to face Josh Johnson (10-4, 1.97) in the pitching matchup.

     Game times against the Marlins are Friday, 7:10; Saturday, 7:10 and Sunday, 1:10 p.m.

BOX SCORE

STL   000 042 000 — 6 11 2

CIN   000 000 010 — 1  5  0