Fowler’s HR lifts Cardinals in 11th
Reds again struggle against a St. Louis rookie starter.
Austin Gomber CINCINNATI — was ready to start the bottom of the seventh, still working on a no-hitter, when a siren sounded and lights started flashing. Great American Ball Park’s fire alarm had malfunctioned.
That was a new one for the Cardinals rookie lefthander, who got an unexpected 7-minute, 30-second break.
“At first, I didn’t know what was going on,” Gomber said. “I turned around and saw everything was flashing.”
Gomber lost his no-hitter and his shutout after the alarm was silenced in the seventh inning, but Dexter Fowler hit a two-run shot in the 11th on Tuesday night, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
For the second straight night, a Cardinals rookie went deep into the game without allowing a hit. Daniel Poncedeleon threw no-hit ball for seven innings in his major league debut Monday before the Reds rallied against Bud Norris for a 2-1 win featuring Eugenio Suarez’s homer.
Poncedeleon urged Gomber to emulate him Tuesday, a challenge that the left-hander laughed off.
“I was talking to Ponce and he was like, ‘Go do it,’” Gomber said. “I was like, I’m probably not going to take a no-hitter into the seventh.”
Joey Votto singled with one out for the Reds’ first hit, and Suarez followed with his 21st homer, ending the rookie’s debut as a starter. Gomber made 15 relief appearances this season before the Cardinals sent him to Triple-A to get in shape to help their depleted rotation. He threw 90 pitches in his first major league start.
Mired in a season-long slump, Fowler connected off left-hander Amir Garrett (0-2) for only his second homer while batting righthanded. Fowler is batting .179 overall.
“We’ve got to keep him going and see that million-dollar smile again,” interim manager Mike Shildt said.
Sam Tuivailala (3-3) escaped a two-on threat in the 10th. Norris got his 19th save in 22 chances, one night after he took a loss.
Homer Bailey returned from his latest injury and gave one of his best performances of the season, allow- ing a pair of runs and strik- ing out a season-high eight in 6⅔ innings. Bailey has been sidelined since late May by a sore right knee.
Bailey was so ineffective before the injury that the Reds considered moving him to the bullpen. He’s 1-7 in 13 starts this season. He called his start Tuesday encour- aging.
“I’ll go back and look at it and see the mistakes I made and just keep plugging away,” Bailey said.