Matt Carpenter's home run gave the Cardinals a win. (Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)
CINCINNATI — Matt Carpenter’s two-run home run off Kevin Gregg in the 11th inning lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Right fielder Jay Bruce homered for Cincinnati (4-2) in the second inning.
Shortstop Jhonny Peralta’s two-run homer for St. Louis (3-2) tied the score in the eighth.
Gregg (0-1) took the loss. Carlos Villanueva (1-0) overcame three walks to pitch two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the victory.
Raisel Iglesias, a 25-year-old Cuban right-hander, made his major league debut for the Reds, allowing three runs in five innings.
Right hander Carlos Martinez allowed two runs and four hits in six innings for St. Louis, along with a career-high eight strikeouts.
In the second inning, Bruce put Cincinnati ahead 1-0 with a 411-foot solo home run to center. His second homer this season coming on a 3-1 pitch from Martinez.
Iglesias retired the first seven batters he faced before a soft single by second baseman Kolten Wong.
After working out of a second-and-third jam in the fourth, Iglesias wasn’t so fortunate in the fifth.
A two-run single by third baseman Matt Carpenter and an RBI double by right fielder Jason Heyward put St. Louis ahead 3-1.
Hamilton launched a 3-1 pitch from Martinez for his first home run of the season, cutting the Reds’ deficit to 3-2 in the fifth.
Catcher Brayan Pena sacrificed his body to spark a Reds rally in the seventh.
Pena slid awkwardly while sliding into first base to beat out an infield hit to begin the inning.
With two outs, third baseman Todd Frazier’s clutch two-run single put Cincinnati ahead.
Phillips followed with an RBI hit to make the score 5-3.
Cincinnati’s lead lasted two batters.
Peralta’s two-run home run, following a single by Matt Holliday, off Jumbo Diaz, tied the score 5-5 in the eighth.
Peralta nearly gave the Cardinals the lead in the ninth, but his bid for a two-run home run off Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was caught by Bruce at the wall.
NOTES: Reds manager Bryan Price was ejected for arguing a hit-by-pitch in the eighth. … Reds C Brayan Pena left the game in the seventh inning after injuring his right shoulder while sliding into first to beat out an infield hit. … Cardinals 1B Matt Adams, who snapped an 0-for-10 skid with a solo home run on Saturday, was out of the lineup Sunday. Mark Reynolds started at first base. … Cardinals C Tony Cruz, who was placed on paternity leave Friday, is expected to rejoin the club for Monday’s home opener. … A foul ball off the bat of Reds LF Marlon Byrd struck a fan in the head during Saturday’s game. Byrd communicated with the fan via Twitter and said he’s doing fine. “You’re expecting the fans to be safe,” Byrd said. “It’s scary. He had a nice little cut above his eye. I was glad he was OK.”
