Nick Castellanos drove in six runs with a grand slam and a two-run shot in the first two innings, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 12-2 Wednesday night to split a doubleheader.
Cincinnati rocked starter J.A. Happ (8-7). Happ allowed 7 runs and 8 hits in just one inning of work.
The game was delayed after the grand slam while umpires discussed and reviewed with New York rules about bats. The umpires determined the chipped bat didn’t play a role in the ball leaving the park, said long-time umpire Randy Marsh, now an umpire observer. Castellanos handed the bat to a fan behind the Reds’ dugout.
After a day off Thursday, the Cardinals begin a three-game series at the NL Central-leading Brewers on Friday night with RHP Adam Wainwright (13-7, 2.95 ERA) on the mound at 7:10.
The first place Brewers lead second place Cincinnati by 10 1/2, the third place Cardinals are 13 games out.
In the wild card, the Dodgers are the number one team, 13 games ahead of number two Cincinnati, the Padres are a half a game behind, the Cardinals and Phillies are 2 1/2 out.