St. Louis Cardinals offense supports Lance Lynn 15-2 in win over Cincinnati Reds

The St. Louis Cardinals got on the board in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds this afternoon and they didn’t look back.
Aug 4, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (31) pitches during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Cardinals defeated the Reds 15-2. Image Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Before Lance Lynn threw a pitch from the mound, the offense had already provided 4 runs to support him in the first inning. Matt Holliday doubled home Allen Craig to put the Cards on the board with a 1-0 lead. Holliday would soon score when David Freese hit a double to center. It wouldn’t take too much longer before Matt Adams hit his 8th home run of the season on a liner to right field. Freese scored on the blast from Adams.

Lance Lynn only made one mistake in the second inning. It was a pitch to Zack Cozart that ended up in the stands for a 2-run home run that cut the lead from four runs to two. Lynn finished the day after throwing 8 innings. His 11 strikeouts were a season-high for him. His previous season-high of 10 strikeouts came in April against the Reds.

On the day, Lynn allowed 4 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks. He was relieved by Trevor Rosenthal, who pitched a perfect 9th inning.

The Cardinals would not score again until the 6th inning when Adams hit a single to rightfielder Jay Bruce. Bruce bobbled the ball for an error and Holliday scored. Adams was not credited with an RBI due to the error although Holliday would have scored regardless.

Tony Cruz singled and Freese scored, adding to the Cards run collection on the day. Daniel Descalso added another run to the tally when he doubled home Adams.
Aug 4, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter (13) rounds third base during the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Cardinals defeated the Reds 15-2. Image Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Carpenter stepped into the plate with a 0 for 23 at bat streak of not having a hit. He was due for a hit and hit it, he did! With bases loaded thanks to Todd Frazier‘s fielding error, Carpenter hit a blast to right field that was just inches away from being a grand slam. Both Cruz and Descalso would score on the play.

In the top of the 7th inning, Freese hit his 6th home run of the season.

In the top of the 8th inning, Craig singled on a line drive to left that scored Carpenter.

During the bottom of the 8th, Cardinals fans were nervous as the bases were loaded for Xavier Paul with 2 outs. Lynn got him with a swinging strikeout to end the inning and get out of the jam.

The Cardinals were not finished scoring after 8 innings. They wanted to put up more runs during the ninth. Cruz hit his first home run of the season. It was the second home run of his career. Pinch-hitting for Lynn, Rob Johnson doubled and drove Descalso in. Jay would have a 2-run double that scored Johnson and Carpenter.

After scoring only 10 runs in the first 7 games of the road trip, the Cardinals scored 44 runs in the final four games of the road trip. Amazing.

Every starter had a hit except for Lance Lynn. Lynn reached on an error prior to Carpenter’s 2-run double in the 6th inning.