After building an 8-1 lead, the Cardinals were seemingly on their way to an easy win over Reds. As it turned out, they needed three more runs to ensure an 11-10 victory and a three game sweep in Cincinnati. Scott Rolen and Roger Cedeno drove in runs in the first inning with doubles to make it 2-0. By the top of the fifth inning, the Cardinals built an 8-1 lead thanks to homers from Jim Edmonds (27) and Tony Womack (5). The Reds rallied for six runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Adam Dunn hit a solo homer, Ryan Freel Walked with the bases loaded and Barry Larkin capped the rally with a grand slam. Jeff Suppan was chased in the fifth and allowed 10 of the 19 walks issued on both sides. With an 8-7 lead, Rolen hit his 22nd home run of the season in the sixth inning and hit number 23 in the seventh. . The Reds rallied for three more in the eighth inning but got now closer. Jason Isringhausen worked around a hit and a walk in the ninth to earn his 26th save. Cal Eldred got the win in relief. The Cardinals’ win combined with the Cubs’ 6-3 loss to the Brewers gave St. Louis an 11-game lead in the National League Central.