Cardinals 2

**Stardust** · 04-18-2012, 08:47 AM

ST. LOUIS - The Redsâ series with the St. Louis Cardinals started a lot like the just-concluded series with Washington Nationals: With extra innings.

The Reds and the Cardinals were tied 1-1 after nine innings Tuesday night before crowd of 35,562 at Busch Stadium.

Johnny Cueto went seven innings and allowed one run on seven hits. He struck out five and walked two. He threw 113 pitches, 69 strikes on the night.

Cueto kept the Reds in it against former Red Kyle Lohse, who came in 2-0 with 1.35 ERA. Lohse also went seven innings. He allowed no runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out six.

Cueto gave up a home run to Carlos Beltran in the first inning to put the Reds in a 1-0 hole.

It stayed 1-0 until eighth. Ryan Hanigan led off with a routine ground ball that went right through second baseman Daniel Descalsoâs legs. Wilson Valdez, pinch-hitting for Cueto, put down a good bunt that Mitchell Boggs mishandled. Both Valdez and pinch-runner Devin Mesoraco were safe.

Brandon Phillips tried and failed to bunt them over. He swung away with the count 3-2 and lined one right at Decalso, who threw to first to double up Valdez.

But Zack Cozart singled to right to score Mesoraco and tie it at 1-1.

The Cardinals had a great chance to win it in the ninth.

Logan Ondrusek walked Descalo to start the inning. Pinch-hitter Erik Komatsu struck out after failing to get the bunt down. Rafael Furcal singled, sending Descalo to third. The Reds walked Beltran intentionally. Ondrusek got Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman to pop out to Joey Votto.

It was somewhat miraculous that the Cardinals only scored one run off Cueto early.

He constantly danced with danger in the first four innings.

Cueto pitched out of jams in the second, third and fourth. The Cardinals left eight runners on and were 0-for-9 with runners in the scoring position through the first four.

The Reds put together a couple of minor threats against Lohse.

Drew Stubbs led off the third with an infield single. He tried to go to third on Hanigan's single. But Beltran threw him out â or so it was ruled by third base umpire Larry Vanover. Replays showed Stubbs was safe.

Cozart walked and Joey Votto singled to start the fourth. But Lohse got Scott Rolen and Jay Bruce on called strikes and Ryan Ludwick swinging.

Cueto settled down and only allowed one hit over his last three innings of work.
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