Reds Inch Closer to Top of NL Central, Top Cardinals 6-2
Published at(CINCINNATI) — Todd Frazier smacked two home runs, and rookie Tony Cingrani returned from a sore back to pitch 5 1/3 innings of two run ball as the Cincinnati Reds topped the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 Thursday night.
Cincinnati (79-62) also received home runs from Jay Bruce and Shin-Soo Choo and are now three games behind the Pirates for first in the NL Central.
Cingrani (7-3) hadn’t pitched for the Reds since leaving his start on Aug. 20 with a strained lower back. He had a hit, a stolen base and seven strikeouts in his return.
Lance Lynn (13-10) walked six batters and allowed four runs in the loss.
The Cardinals (80-60) are now 1 1/2 games out of first in the NL Central and have lost six of eight.
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