CINCINNATI — Someway and somehow, the Reds had to come up with a big hit to slow their speedy descent toward falling completely out of the playoff race. On Sunday, they finally got a few of them.
Cincinnati, which lost eight of nine entering the day, also snapped a five-game losing streak. During the losing streak, it was 4-for-37 with runners in scoring position.
For now, the Reds (69-68) are 4 1/2 games behind the Mets for the final National League Wild Card spot. New York is playing an afternoon game vs. the Marlins.
It was a 3-3 game in the fifth inning when Elly De La Cruz, batting lefty with the Cardinals’ defense shifted toward the pull side, chopped a grounder near the foul line over an unattended third base for a leadoff double.
Hays followed by hitting a 3-2 slider from Cardinals starter Andre Pallante to left field for a two-run homer — his 12th of the season. In the seventh, he hit a leadoff double to right-center field and scored on a Ke’Bryan Hayes two-out single up the middle.
Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer overcame some first-inning misfortune to pitch six innings, allowing three earned runs with five hits, no walks and eight strikeouts.
