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Cardinals beat Reds 4-2, spoil Riggleman’s debut as manager

Wacha (3-1) gave up one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the year, to improve to 10-1 in his career against the Reds.
Credit: Jeff Curry
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jose Peraza (9) hits a sacrifice fly off of St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (not pictured) during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Michael Wacha kept up his strong pitching against Cincinnati, Yadier Molina hit two-run double in the first inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals won 4-2 Friday night to spoil Jim Riggleman’s debut as Reds interim manager.

Riggleman replaced Bryan Price, who was fired Thursday after Cincinnati lost 15 of its first 18 games.

Wacha (3-1) gave up one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the year, to improve to 10-1 in his career against the Reds.

Jose Martinez had three hits and an RBI, raising his batting average to .358 this season. He has eight RBIs over his last seven games. Tommy Pham scored twice.

Bud Norris picked up his fifth save in five chances despite allowing a two-out RBI single to Alex Blandino, helping the Cardinals won for the sixth time in seven games.

Brandon Finnegan (0-2) lost for the second time in two starts against the Cardinals this year. Finnegan came off the disabled list (left biceps strain) April 14th. He allowed five hits and four runs while walking four over three innings.

The Reds have lost 11 of their last 12.

Pham, who scored on Molina’s bases-loaded double in the first, walked in the second and scored on Martinez’s double to make it 4-0.

Tommy Pham scored for the second time in two innings. Following a walk, he scored on a two-out double by Jose Martinez to pad the Cardinals early lead to 4-0.

The Reds’ only damage against Wacha came in the third as Billy Hamilton scored on Jose Peraza’s sacrifice fly. It was Cincinnati’s first run since the eighth inning against Milwaukee on Monday, ending a 21-inning scoreless streak. Last season the Reds season-high scoreless streak was 20 innings.

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