Reds’ offense racks up 22 hits in rout of Cards

ST. LOUIS — Back at Busch Stadium with a chance to pull even with the Giants and inch closer to a sixth straight playoff berth, the Cardinals instead elicited boos from the typically affable home fans with one of their ugliest performances of the season. They looked little like a team ready for postseason play in a 15-2 loss to the Reds to open a seven-game homestand on Monday night.

The Cardinals fell further back in the National League Wild Card race that the Mets still lead with six days remaining in the regular season. New York, which also lost on Monday, holds a 1 1/2-game lead over the Cardinals. The Giants, who were idle, sit one game ahead of St. Louis.

The Reds, who scored 15 runs for the first time since July 30, 2015, also tallied a season-high 22 hits, including five from outfielder Steve Selsky. Adam Duvall added a career-high five RBIs in his third career two-homer game, while Brandon Phillips matched his career best with a four-hit game. The 22 hits were the most by a Reds team since June 13, 2003.

Cincinnati broke the game open with a seven-run fourth in which 12 batters came to the place. Seven straight reached at one point, and two (Selsky and Tucker Barnhart) collected two hits in the inning. Of Selsky’s five hits, four scored runs. Every starting position player in the Reds’ lineup tallied at least one hit.

All that support allowed starter Tim Adleman to cruise during his career-high seven-inning start. He retired the first 10 batters he faced and allowed just four hits.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDHomers set tone: Votto and Duvall got the scoring parade …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com