Winn homers twice as Cards shutout Reds in opener of doubleheader

By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

After being rained out on Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals made it rain again on Wednesday, smashing four home runs in a 6-0 shutout win in the first game of a split doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds.  

Masyn Winn was responsible for two of the Redbirds home runs, the first coming in the first inning as the Cardinals shortstop blasted the ball 400 feet to left field to open the scoring.  St. Louis though, managed just one more hit off Reds starter, and former Royal, Brady Singer over his six innings of work. 

The Cardinals managed to open the flood gates in the ninth inning as the Reds brought on Alexis Díaz.  Diaz opened the inning hitting Willson Contreras with a pitch, before retiring Alec Burleson on a pop out and Nolan Gorman on a fly out, but then what came was distaster.  

Yohel Pozo singled to advance Contreras to second, and then St. Louis struck for back-to-back-to-back home runs, first seeing Victor Scott II homer to right center field.  Lars Nootbaar followed that with a blast, also to right center, before Winn hit his second home run of the game going again to left field. 

Miles Mikolas earned the win, his first of the season moving to 1-2, pitching 5.1 shutout innings giving up three hits and striking out four batters.  Winn (2-3. 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Pozo (2-4), and Scott II (2-3, 3 RBI, 1 BB) led the way at the plate. 

The second game of the doubleheader will feature Steven Matz on the mound for the Cardinals taking on Chase Petty for the Reds.  First pitch is at 5:40, pregame coverage will be joined at 5:30 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.