Peter Bourjos and Matt Adams each had two hits for the Cardinals, who have alternated wins and losses in their first seven games. Brayan Pena went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and Ryan Ludwick added two hits for the Reds, who have scored three runs or fewer in six of their seven contests.

Wacha (1-0) turned in his second strong outing against the Reds this season, allowing one run on seven hits. Reds left-hander Tony Cingrani (0-1) lasted only four innings, issuing four walks and allowing three runs and three hits.

Unlike last week's duel in which Wacha and Cingrani combined for 13 2/3 scoreless innings, the Cardinals wasted no time getting on the board this time. They loaded the bases with two hits and a walk in the first, and Molina cleared them with a double over Ludwick's head in left field.

Pena and pinch hitter Roger Bernadina smacked back-to-back doubles in the fifth to get Cincinnati within 3-1, but St. Louis plated two insurance runs in the seventh as Matt Holliday doubled home a run and scored on Allen Craig's single. Zack Cozart singled in a run in the ninth and pinch hitter Neftali Soto added a sacrifice fly for the Reds before Trevor Rosenthal closed the door, stranding the tying run at first.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cozart snapped an 0-for-22 skid to start the season with his RBI single in the ninth. … Bourjos recorded his first two hits as a Cardinal after an 0-for-13 start. … Reds speedster Billy Hamilton led off the game with a double for his first hit of the season but was retired in a rundown between third and home and still has not recorded a stolen base.