Goldschmidt hits 2 HRs as Cardinals beat Reds

CINCINNATI — Paul Goldschmidt homered in his first two at-bats and Adam Wainwright earned his first victory over Cincinnati since 2019 as the Cardinals defeated the Reds 8-5 on Tuesday night.

Since starting the season 10-24, the Cardinals have won 12 of their last 16 games.

Goldschmidt hit solo homers in the first and third innings off Reds starter Graham Ashcraft. He has nine home runs this season and has had three multi-homer games this year and 26 in his career.

“It’s definitely a good place to hit, as evidenced by my homers today that barely squeaked out of there,” Goldschmidt said. “Just trying to take good swings and hit the ball hard. Got to the first row.”

Wainwright (2-0) earned his first victory over the Reds since Aug. 16, 2019, also at Great American Ball Park. He hasn’t beaten the Reds at home since 2016, and his 17 career losses against Cincinnati are his most against any opponent.

Wainwright had two strikeouts and a walk in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed eight hits and five earned runs. The Cardinals’ offense gave him a big boost on Tuesday.

“I started and I won the game,” Wainwright said. “I won’t go into a deep depression in my hotel room, which is what usually happens after a Cincinnati start.”

In addition to Goldschmidt’s early blasts, Tommy Edman hit a tworun triple that helped the Cardinals build a 7-3 lead in the fourth.

The Cardinals’ Nolan Gorman singled in the third inning, extending his careerbest hitting streak to 13 games.

Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado and manager Oliver Marmol were ejected for arguing a called strike in the third inning.

Reds rookie shortstop Matt McClain hit his first career homer in the third inning. Cincinnati had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth. But Ryan Helsley got Jonathan India to ground into a force play for his sixth save.

Ashcraft (2-3) had allowed two or less runs in his first six starts, the first Reds pitcher to do that since Luis Castillo in 2019. But he has averaged more than six runs allowed in his starts since.

Tossed

In the third inning, home plate umpire Will Little called a strike on the low, inside corner of the plate. Arenado stepped away, grinning and wincing, then grounded into an inning-ending double play.

As Arenado headed back to the dugout, he was ejected by Little. Marmol came out of the dugout and was ejected for the third time this season. It was Arenado’s eighth ejection, and first this year.

Trainer’s room

There is no timetable for 1B Joey Votto (shoulder surgery) to resume his minor league rehab, but head athletic trainer Sean McQueeney said Votto is showing progress with strength and range of motion.