Owings And Votto Help Reds Deck Cards

July 4, 2009 6:43 p.m. EST

Cincinnati, OH (AHN) - Micah Owings struck out six, in 6 2-3 innings of work and chipped in with a solo home run as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 Saturday.

Owings played the hero at the plate as well. With the game tied at one in the second frame, Owings smacked a solo homer to left field for the lead.

Miscues hurt St. Louis in the third.

Cards shortstop Tyler Green gave Brandon Phillips the second bag on a throwing error.

Later Reds' Jay Bruce moved Phillips to third on a fly.

Errors bit St. Louis again when catcher Yadier Molina overthrew third base on a steal attempt, and Phillips crossed the plate for the third run.

Cincinnati made noise in the fifth when Joey Votto drummed a solo homer, and Phillips later scored on a fielder choice for a four-run lead.

The Cardinals were able to squeeze a second run in the sixth stanza when Albert Pujols hit a single and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly.

That's all the Reds needed as the Cardinals were stymied at the plate by Cincinnati's bullpen. Francisco Cordero picked up his 20th save of the season for the Reds.

For Cards' starter Brad Thompson, the picture was grimmer. Thompson was hammered for nine hits in five innings of work and dropped his fifth game.