Shelby Miller improves to 9-9 with his seven shutout innings. (photo/MLB)
Matt Carpenter broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the seventh inning, Matt Adams added a three-run homer in the ninth and Shelby Miller did his part on the mound, allowing three hits while pitching into the eighth inning as the Cardinals keep rolling toward postseason play with a 5-0 win at Cincinnati.
Miller was efficient, facing the minimum 12 batters in the first four innings. Brandon Phillips singled but was erased by a double play. Only one Reds baserunner reached scoring position. That’s when Devin Mesoraco led off the fifth with a double but was stranded at second. Miller, Pat Neshek and Sam Freeman didn’t walk a batter and with a pair of double plays, the trio faced only 28 batters.
Cincinnati’s Manny Parra gave up a double to pinch hitter Randal Grichuk and Kolten Wong had an infield single. After Miller’s sacrifice, Carpenter singled to right for a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals have won nine of 10, going from two games out to a season-high 4 1/2 games up in the division in that span.