Lynn pitches 6 sparkling innings as the Cardinals blank the Reds 2-0 for a 4-game series split

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn pauses on the mound during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lance Lynn pitched six sparkling innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 on Sunday for a split of their four-game series.

St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn gestures toward the dugout after hitting an RBI double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Lynn (4-3) allowed two hits, struck out six and walked one.

Pedro Pagés had a career-high three hits for St. Louis, which closed out a 7-3 homestand.

Cincinnati infielder Jonathan India extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a double in the third. He has at least one double in each of his last eight games.

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (28) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run on an RBI double hit by Masyn Winn during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Stuart Fairchild singled in the fifth to account for the Reds’ only other hit. He stole second but was stranded when Will Benson lined to right and Luke Maile struck out swinging.

Lynn recorded his 1,000th career strikeout with St. Louis, becoming the sixth pitcher to reach that mark with the franchise. He also fashioned his longest scoreless outing of the season.

Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India hits a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

“From pitch one, he attacked the zone. He just went after guys,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “The way the ball came out of his hand today was really special.”

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Lynn did not have a runner reach third against him.

“Successful outings usually mean you get ahead and you stay ahead and you make quality pitches,” Lynn said.

Alec Burleson, who drove in the Cardinals' first run, said Lynn took control right from the start.

“He set the tone, he did what he does best — go in there and fill up the zone with his fastball,” Burleson said. “It’s fun to play behind him.”

The Cardinals went ahead to stay in the fifth against Hunter Greene (5-4). Pagés singled and moved up on Masyn Winn’s one-out single. Pagés scored on Burleson’s single to right.

“Over the past month or so we’ve been carrying (some momentum) and it’s a lot of fun,” Burleson said.

Winn added a run-scoring double off Fernando Cruz in the sixth.

Greene (5-4) allowed four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two.

“I felt like I made some really good pitches,” Greene said. “I was constantly behind hitters, but I felt like I was able to figure it out.”

Lynn threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of 21 batters. Ryan Helsley struck out two in a perfect ninth for his major league-high 30th save. Helsley has converted his last 30 opportunities, a franchise record.

“I try not to worry about numbers,” Helsley said. “That’s just something else that’s going to be on your mind and bothering you. I just try and focus on the game at hand.”

St. Louis concluded June with 17 wins, its most since going 18-8 in 2015 on the way to a 105-win campaign.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: C Iván Herrera began swinging a bat on Sunday and will catch a bullpen session over the next few days. He has missed the last 10 games with lower back tightness.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Graham Ashcraft (4-4, 5.45 ERA) takes on Yankees RHP Luis Gil (9-3, 3.15 ERA) in the opener of a three-game set on Tuesday in New York.

Cardinals: RHP Kyle Gibson (5-3, 3.70 ERA) will face Pittsburgh RHP Mitch Keller (9-4, 3.20 ERA) on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Gibson is 2-1 with a 3.65 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates.

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