Offense fizzles after Votto’s first-inning homer

Paul DeJong hit a CINCINNATI — two-run homer and Lance Lynn got past Joey Votto’s first-inning home run to win his fourth consecutive start as the St. Louis Cardinals eased past the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Saturday night at Great American Ball Park.

Lynn (10-6) retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced, walking Votto twice. The right-hander limited the Reds to three hits and a run with three walks and four strikeouts.

Seung Hwan Oh allowed a harmless two-out single in the seventh, Tyler Lyons struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth — including Votto looking to end the inning — and Trevor Rosenthal worked around a walk and a single in the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances.

The victory was the Cardinals’ first in six games at Cincinnati this season and the first in their last six overall decided by more than one run.

Cincinnati rookie Luis Castillo (2-5) struggled with his control, tying his season and career high with five walks and hitting two batters while giving up four runs — three earned.

The Cardinals had just three hits with four strikeouts in Castillo’s 6⅓ innings.

Votto drove a 1-1 curveball into the right field seats for his 28th homer of the season, one short of his total from last season.

DeJong delivered the Cardinals’ first hit and gave them a 2-1 lead with a two-run home run on a 1-0 fastball with one out in the third, his first home run since July 25.

The Cardinals pushed across two insurance runs in the seventh inning on Tommy Pham’s bases-loaded infield hit and a passed ball charged to Devin Mesoraco.