Tyler O’Neill homered twice and Jack Flaherty tossed seven sharp innings as the St. Louis Cardinals beat Cincinnati 5-2 Sunday, the Reds’ seventh straight loss.
O’Neill, who came off the injured list on Friday after missing 13 games with a right groin strain, hit solo home runs in the second and fifth innings.
O’Neill had been 0 for 4 since being activated until breaking loose. The two-homer game was the second of his career.
Flaherty (4-0) retired the first 10 batters and allowed just three hits in a 95-pitch stint. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
Alex Reyes earned his fifth save. He got Tucker Barnhart to ground out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Dylan Carlson added three hits and drove in a run. Paul Goldschmidt had two RBI.
Yadier Molina missed his second successive game with sore tendon in his right foot. St. Louis manager Mike Shildt says he could have played on Sunday, but the team is taking a cautious approach.
Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (0-2, 5.03) will face Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler (1-2, 3.80) on Monday in the first of a four-game set in St. Louis, 5:50 with the pregame and the first pitch at 6:45 on KIRX.