Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals, but it wasn’t enough as Kyle Lohse gave up a two run single to Reds’ pitcher Aaron Harang leading to a five run 6 th inning as the Cardinals lost for the second time in a row to Cincinnati 8-3. 

Kyle Lohse (3-2), a former Reds pitcher went six innings, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits. He walked three and struck out four. He’s now 7-7 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 career starts at Great American Ball Park.

Harang (3-3) allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out seven.

Willy Taveras began the game with a double off Chris Duncan’s glove in left, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Taveras advanced to third on Jerry Hairston Jr.’s sacrifice bunt, then Jay Bruce took a 3-2 pitch from Lohse into right-field Sun Deck to put the Reds ahead, 2-0.  It was his 9 th of the season.  Taveras and Hairston have been spark plugs for the Reds’ offense in this series. 

In the 6 th , things got out of hand after  RBI singles by Lance Nix and Ramon Hernandez put the Reds ahead, 4-2. With two outs, Lohse walked catcher Ryan Hanigan, to load the bases for Harang, who was 0-for-13 this season.  Harang singled and it was 6-2.

The Cardinals scored an unearned run in the seventh, but Cincinnati got the run back when Hairston hit a homer off Dennys Reyes to make the score 8-3.