The St. Louis Cardinals powered past the Cincinnati Reds with a commanding 10–3 victory on Friday night, breaking the game wide open with a massive sixth-inning surge that erased a tight contest and extended their winning momentum.
Alec Burleson was one of the standout performers, launching a home run and crossing the plate four times, while Jordan Walker continued his hot stretch at the plate with two doubles among his three hits. Their combined offensive firepower helped drive St. Louis to its second straight win as the lineup erupted late.
The turning point came in a decisive sixth inning when the Cardinals sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs off Cincinnati’s bullpen. After the first out of the frame, St. Louis rattled off a string of hits and productive at-bats, with Lars Nootbaar and Iván Herrera delivering key run-scoring hits. The inning only grew more damaging for Cincinnati, as the Cardinals added four more runs later in the game, capitalizing on walks, hit-by-pitches, and timely contact with runners in scoring position.
Hunter Dobbins played a crucial role out of the bullpen, tossing five scoreless innings in relief of the starter to secure the win. He allowed just four hits while striking out six and walking two, effectively shutting down Cincinnati after an early Reds lead.
On the other side, Brady Singer struggled to hold an early advantage. Cincinnati jumped out to a 3–0 lead before Singer took the mound, but defensive miscues and a controversial replay decision shifted momentum early. Singer ultimately took the loss, allowing four runs only one earned over four innings while striking out six and walking three.
The Reds also dealt with frustration beyond the scoreboard, as manager Terry Francona was ejected in the first inning following a disputed replay challenge that went against Cincinnati on a bang-bang play at first base.
Sal Stewart provided one of the few bright spots for Cincinnati, collecting two hits and driving in a pair of runs, but the offense stalled as the game progressed. The loss dropped the Reds back to the .500 mark and marked their sixth defeat in their last eight games, continuing a troubling stretch for the club.
St. Louis, meanwhile, continues to build momentum despite missing rookie standout J.J. Wetherholt for a second straight game due to lower-body soreness. Even without him, the Cardinals’ depth and timely hitting proved too much for Cincinnati to handle, as they pulled away convincingly and reinforced their dominance in the series.
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