Gennett’s 4 homers tie MLB record

CINCINNATI — Scooter Gennett hit four home runs, matching the Major League Baseball record, and finished with 10 RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds routed the slumping St. Louis Cardinals, 13-1, on Tuesday night.

Gennett became the 17th player to homer four times in one game — and perhaps the least likely. A scrappy second baseman who was claimed off waivers from Milwaukee in late March, he began the night with 38 career home runs in five seasons, including three this year.

Josh Hamilton was the previous player to hit four home runs in one game, for Texas against Baltimore in May 2012.

The 27-year-old Gennett singled his first time up and then homered in four straight at-bats, including a grand slam. His 10 RBIs tied Cincinnati’s club mark.

Gennett snapped an 0-for-19 slump during the Reds’ 4-2 win over the Cardinals on Monday.

He went 5 for 5 on Tuesday and raised his batting average 32 points to .302.

Since being picked up by the Reds late in spring training, Gennett has played a utility role for Cincinnati. He started in left field Tuesday night.

Gennett hit an RBI single and his second career slam off St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright (6-4), who brought a long scoreless streak into the game but couldn’t handle a team that has hit him like no other. He lasted only 3 2/3 innings and gave up nine runs for just the third time in his career. The last time? Also against Cincinnati in 2013. Gennett’s grand slam was the first Wainwright had allowed since ’12.

Tim Adleman (4-2) gave up one run — on Stephen Piscotty’s homer — in seven innings.

The Cardinals have dropped a season-high five straight and eight of their past 10.