Weaver's arm, Pham's bat and legs lift Cardinals over Reds 5-2
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ST. LOUIS -- Luke Weaver threw six innings of two-hit ball, Tommy Pham drove in two runs and stole two bases, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Thursday.
The Cardinals, who are chasing the first-place Cubs in the National League Central and the Rockies in the wild-card standings, have won five of their last six and nine of 12.
Weaver (6-1), a rookie right-hander who has boosted the St. Louis rotation, allowed one unearned run, struck out six and didn't walk a batter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Weaver was 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four appearances, including three starts, in June. He's now 3-0 with a 0.99 ERA through his first three starts in September.
Rookie left-hander Amir Garrett (3-8) was charged with four runs in four innings. He struck out seven and walked five.
The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the second when Scott Schebler hit a double and scored with two outs when shortstop Paul DeJong mishandled Phillip Ervin's grounder.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Garrett struck out four consecutive batters before running into trouble with back-to-back, full-count walks with two outs in the third.
After a stolen base by Tommy Pham and a double steal by Pham and Paul DeJong, Jose Martinez came through with a full-count, two-run single to left to put St. Louis ahead.
Pham hit a two-run homer in the fifth, his 20th of the season. With 21 stolen bases, he became the first Cardinal to record a 20/20 season since Reggie Sanders in 2004.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cardinals cut down Joey Votto at home plate to end the Reds' seventh, following Adam Duvall's double off the left field fence. DeJong took a relay toss from Harrison Bader and threw home to Yadier Molina, preserving the Cardinals' three-run lead.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (right elbow) threw a bullpen session before Thursday's game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Reds: 2B Scooter Gennett, who left Tuesday's game with left hand inflammation, was not in the lineup for the second straight day and is considered day to day.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (4-8, 7.26) starts off a three-game home series against the Pirates and RHP Chad Kuhl (7-10, 4.21). Bailey is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two September starts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (11-10, 3.33) opens a three-game series against the Cubs in Chicago opposite RHP John Lackey (11-11, 4.65). Martinez is 1-1 with a 3.19 ERA in four career starts at Wrigley Field.