Jonathan India has 2 hits to extend hitting streak to 9 games, Reds beat Cardinals 11-4

Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India hits an RBI double against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jonathan India had two hits to extend his hitting streak to nine games, Spencer Steer homered and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-4 on Thursday night.

India had his sixth straight multi-hit game. He had reached safely in 11 consecutive at-bats before finally being retired Wednesday.

St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn, right, is out at second base as Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India, throws to first during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. Alec Burleson was safe at first. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

“We came out swinging,” India said. “Big win for us, but we need to keep going. You know we’ve been doing this the last four series, we win big the first game and then it doesn’t turn out great the next.”

St. Louis Cardinals' Dylan Carlson (3) is out at second base as Cincinnati Reds second baseman Levi Jordan, rear, turns a double play in the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Reds starter Andrew Abbott (7-6) was the winner, allowing two runs on two hits and six walks in five innings. Cincinnati won for the second time in six games.

“Probably one of the worst games I’ve pitched in my life,” Abbott said. “Just all over the place with timing, mechanic-wise. But yeah, team picked me up and we got a win. That’s all that matters.”

Miles Mikolas (6-7) lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing at least one run in each inning he pitched in. He gave up a career-high 10 runs, nine of them earned, on 12 hits and a walk.

“Just left a lot of pitches in the heart of the plate and they took some really good swings off of him and made him pay,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “They had really good at-bats, so throw this one out and keep moving on.”

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44), left, celebrates with teammate Stuart Fairchild (17), right, after beating the St. Louis Cardinals in a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Noelvi Marte, in his first game back for the Reds after serving an 80-game suspension for banned substances, had three hits, scored three runs and drove in another.

“I was just focusing myself on just the emotional aspect and just being ready to attack the zone,” Marte said through an interpreter.

Elly De La Cruz had three hits and stole his major league-leading 38th base. Steer, Will Benson and Stuart Fairchild also had multi-hit games as the Reds scored double-digit runs for the seventh time this season.

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Sam Moll throws in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

De La Cruz’s triple scored India to give the Reds a 1-0 lead in the first inning and India’s RBI double added to the lead in the second. It is the fifth straight game that India has doubled in, the longest by a Red since India’s four-game run from Sept. 24-27, 2021.

“I love hitting first and it just gives me more confidence to think I’m the guy that has to get on and I like that pressure,” India said.

Steer, Nick Martini and Marte each doubled and scored in the third to make it 5-0.

Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer hits a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

“Not hitting spots, kind of stunk out there,” Mikolas said. “Bullpen a little short-staffed, today was not a good day for me to stink. Work my tail off in between starts, make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Cincinnati Reds' Stuart Fairchild hits an RBI double against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Steer’s homer in the fourth made it 7-2 Reds and Benson and Fairchild each had an RBI double to extend the lead to 10-2 in the fifth.

Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer in the third for St. Louis, his first since June 5. Brendan Donovan and Dylan Carlson added RBI doubles in the eighth, as the Cardinals lost for the second time in their last seven games.

Cincinnati Reds' Noelvi Marte hits an RBI double against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson was a late scratch from the lineup and was replaced by Luke Maile. Stephenson left the game to be with his pregnant wife.

“It’s a team and that’s the best way to say it,” Reds manager David Bell said. “It’s challenging. We want everyone here and you know, healthy, but no one is talking about anything but, you know, finding a way to get it done. So, I think there’s strength in that.”

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter duirng the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

TRANSACTIONS

Aside from reinstating Marte, the Reds optioned IF Livan Soto to Triple-A Louisville and moved RHP Emilio Pagán (right lat strain) to the 60-day injured list.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas throws to a Cincinnati Reds batter during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

TRAINERS ROOM

Reds: OF Jake Fraley (right calf contusion) and 3B Jeimer Candelario (hamstring tendinitis) each missed their second straight game, but neither is expected to require an IL stint.

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Jose Fermin catches a popup hit by Cincinnati Reds' Noelvi Marte during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 27, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Cardinals: OF Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield on Friday.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals will send RHP Andre Pallante (3-3, 5.23 ERA) to the mound in the second of a four-game series against the Reds and RHP Frankie Montas (3-5, 4.48 ERA) on Friday night.

__

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB