By MATT PIKE
Tyler Stephenson hit a bases-clearing double in the ninth inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-6 on Monday night at Busch Stadium to close within two games of the New York Mets for the last NL wild card.
Sal Stewart opened the scoring for the Reds in the second inning with his fourth home run of the season. In the bottom half the Cardinals tied up the game as third baseman Nolan Arenado, recovered from a strained right shoulder that had sidelined him since July 30, singled on the first pitch he saw and drove in Willson Contreras.
Welcome back, Nolan Arenado! pic.twitter.com/b8aPjss0KE
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 16, 2025
In the third inning, a two RBI single from Miguel Andujar gave Cincinnati the lead, scoring Matt McLain and Noelvi Marte. St. Louis rallied back to take the lead, first tying the game on a two RBI double by Alec Burleson, driving in Brendan Donovan and Iván Herrera. Burleson scored the go ahead run on an RBI single from Contreras.
Burly ties it up! pic.twitter.com/LEGcWNwvYz
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 16, 2025
And Willson gives us the lead! https://t.co/GHiKaCy0Co pic.twitter.com/wdbsmvWsns
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 16, 2025
St. Louis led 4-3 in the seventh before McLain hit a two-run double, driving in Elly De La Cruz and Stephenson, and later scored on TJ Friedl’s single. The Cardinals tied the score 6-6 in the bottom half on RBI singles by Brendan Donovan and Iván Herrera.
Donnie and Iván even it back up! pic.twitter.com/UMQxn7Xv4i
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 16, 2025
In the eighth inning, Stewart scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Benson. Then in the ninth inning, Stewart drove in Friedl with an RBI single, and the Reds capped their scoring in the four run frame with the bases clearing hit from Stephenson, bringing home Marte, Austin Hays, and Stewart.
Ryan Fernandez took the loss in relief, falling to 0-4 on the season, giving up one run on one hit with two walks in just 1/3 of an inning pitched. At the plate, Donovan was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Contreras was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
St. Louis continues their series with Cininatti tomorrow. Michael McGreevy (6-3, 4.44) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Andrew Abbott (9-6, 2.79 ERA) for the Reds. First pitch is at 6:45pm with coverage beginning at 6:35 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.
