Votto hit a pair of two-run homers -- the strongest indication yet that he's fully back in form -- and Todd Frazier had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly on Friday night, keeping the Cincinnati Reds undefeated with a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Reds are 4-0 for the first time since 2011, when they won their first five games. They've won each game in their final at-bat.
Votto homered off John Lackey in each of his first two at-bats. Frazier's sacrifice fly in the eighth off Jordan Walden (0-1) drove in Billy Hamilton and marked the second time this week that he's knocked in the deciding run.
J.J. Hoover (2-0) escaped a threat in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman gave up a hit and fanned two in the ninth for his second save.
Votto hit only six homers last season -- the last one on May 10 -- and didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee. He showed up for spring training feeling strong and has played to his 2010 National League MVP form so far.
"He was terrific," manager Bryan Price said. "He's doing a lot of things really well. It's nice to have him back with his athleticism."
He had his first multihomer game since May 13, 2012, and the 10th of his career. In four games, Votto is 7 for 17 with three homers and eight RBIs.
Votto had two singles in the season opener, a game-ending RBI single in the 11th inning of the second game, and a two-run homer on Thursday as the Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"It's early. It'll level off," Votto said. "I didn't have a great spring, but I felt very good. Physically, I was in a good frame which usually means I'm going to have a good year."
Jason Marquis made his first start in the majors since July 19, 2013 with San Diego. He had Tommy John surgery and made nine appearances in the minors with the Phillies last season as part of his comeback.
The 36-year-old was in line for the win, handing a 4-3 lead to the bullpen in the seventh. Marquis retired 12 in a row after Randal Grichuk's two-run homer.
"I gave up the home run to the No 8 batter there, and I felt like I wasn't doing my job," Marquis said. "Luckily, Joey came through."
The Cardinals put together three singles in the seventh, with Jason Heyward's hit up the middle tying it at 4.
PAYING TRIBUTE
The Reds had a pregame tribute on the videoboard for of Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend, who died in a car crash during the offseason. Also, a tribute to Lauren Hill, the college basketball player who died from a brain tumor on Friday.
BILLY RUNS
Hamilton's steal in the eighth left him 7 for 7 this season. He's the first Reds player to steal a base in each of the first four games since 1988, when Barry Larkin had a steal in each of the first six.. Hamilton is 7 for 7 career off Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: Reserve catcher Tony Cruz went on paternity leave. He's expected back on Monday. Catcher Ed Easley was called up from Triple-A Memphis for his major league debut.
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A Louisville. He's on the DL recovering from surgery on his forearm last September.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: Michael Wacha has made six career appearances against the Reds, going 1-2 with a 2.30 ERA.
Reds: Johnny Cueto makes his second start. He threw seven shutout innings but didn't get the decision in a 5-2 win over the Pirates on Monday. Cueto is 2/3 career against the Cardinals.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| St. Louis - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Carpenter walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Carpenter to second on wild pitch by Marquis. | 0 | 0 |
| Heyward struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Holliday walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Adams popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Peralta doubled to left, Carpenter scored, Holliday to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Molina grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for St. Louis | STL | CIN |
| Hamilton walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Hamilton to second on balk by Lackey. | 1 | 0 |
| Votto homered to left (367 feet), Hamilton scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Frazier fouled out to catcher. | 1 | 2 |
| Mesoraco grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Bruce fouled out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Wong singled to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Grichuk homered to center (418 feet), Wong scored. | 3 | 2 |
| Lackey grounded out to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Carpenter grounded out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Heyward struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for St. Louis | STL | CIN |
| Byrd grounded out to first. | 3 | 2 |
| Phillips lined out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Cozart flied out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Holliday grounded out to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Adams struck out looking. | 3 | 2 |
| Peralta lined out to left. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for St. Louis | STL | CIN |
| Marquis singled to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Hamilton lined out to left. | 3 | 2 |
| Votto homered to left (381 feet), Marquis scored. | 3 | 4 |
| Frazier flied out to left. | 3 | 4 |
| Mesoraco grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Molina grounded out to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Wong flied out to left. | 3 | 4 |
| Grichuk struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for St. Louis | STL | CIN |
| Bruce singled to center. | 3 | 4 |
| Byrd grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Bruce out at second. | 3 | 4 |
| Phillips grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Lackey struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| Carpenter struck out looking. | 3 | 4 |
| Heyward grounded out to second. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for St. Louis | STL | CIN |
| Cozart lined out to center. | 3 | 4 |
| Marquis lined out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| Hamilton struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jason Marquis pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Holliday reached on infield single to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Adams grounded into fielder's choice to second, Holliday out at second. | 3 | 4 |
| Peralta singled to center, Adams to third. | 3 | 4 |
| Molina struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| Wong flied out to left. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for St. Louis | STL | CIN |
| Votto grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| Frazier walked. | 3 | 4 |
| Mesoraco flied out to center. | 3 | 4 |
| Bruce flied out to center. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Kevin Gregg pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Gregg relieved Marquis. | 3 | 4 |
| Grichuk grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 4 |
| Jay hit for Lackey. | 3 | 4 |
| Jay singled to right. | 3 | 4 |
| Carpenter reached on infield single to second, Jay to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Parra relieved Gregg. | 3 | 4 |
| Heyward singled to center, Jay scored, Carpenter thrown out at third, Heyward to second advancing on throw. | 4 | 4 |
| Holliday intentionally walked. | 4 | 4 |
| Reynolds hit for Adams. | 4 | 4 |
| Hoover relieved Parra. | 4 | 4 |
| Reynolds struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Seth Maness pitching for St. Louis | STL | CIN |
| Reynolds at first base. | 4 | 4 |
| Maness relieved Lackey. | 4 | 4 |
| Byrd flied out to right. | 4 | 4 |
| Phillips popped out to first. | 4 | 4 |
| Cozart struck out looking. | 4 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| J.J. Hoover pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Peralta struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| Molina struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| Wong doubled to left. | 4 | 4 |
| Grichuk grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jordan Walden pitching for St. Louis | STL | CIN |
| Walden relieved Maness. | 4 | 4 |
| Boesch hit for Hoover. | 4 | 4 |
| Boesch struck out swinging. | 4 | 4 |
| Hamilton walked. | 4 | 4 |
| Hamilton stole second. | 4 | 4 |
| Votto intentionally walked. | 4 | 4 |
| Hamilton to third on wild pitch by Walden. | 4 | 4 |
| Votto stole second. | 4 | 4 |
| Frazier hit sacrifice fly to right, Hamilton scored. | 4 | 5 |
| Mesoraco popped out to third. | 4 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Aroldis Chapman pitching for Cincinnati | STL | CIN |
| Chapman relieved Hoover. | 4 | 5 |
| Bourjos hit for Walden. | 4 | 5 |
| Bourjos struck out looking. | 4 | 5 |
| Carpenter singled to right. | 4 | 5 |
| Heyward grounded into fielder's choice to second, Carpenter out at second. | 4 | 5 |
| Holliday struck out looking. | 4 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| St. Louis Cardinals | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Carpenter 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 | .333 | .429 | .333 |
| Heyward RF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 25 | .357 | .357 | .500 |
| Holliday LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 20 | .364 | .500 | .364 |
| Adams 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .000 | .182 | .000 |
a-Reynolds PH-1B
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Peralta SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .308 | .308 | .462 |
| Molina C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .000 | .167 | .000 |
| Wong 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | .200 | .273 | .300 |
| Grichuk CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .250 | .250 | 1.000 |
| Lackey P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
b-Jay PH
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .333 | .333 | .444 |
Maness P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Walden P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
c-Bourjos PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 36 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 161 | |||
| a-struck out swinging for M Adams in the 7th b-singled to right for J Lackey in the 7th c-struck out looking for J Walden in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Peralta (2, Marquis); Wong (1, Hoover) HR: Grichuk (1, 2nd inning off Marquis 1 on, 0 Out) RBI: Peralta (1), Grichuk 2 (2), Heyward (1) 2-out RBI: Peralta Cardinals RISP: 2-9 (Adams 0-1, Wong 0-1, Heyward 1-2, Reynolds 0-1, Grichuk 0-1, Molina 0-2, Peralta 1-1) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Peralta-Wong-Adams). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Attendance | 30,808 (72.8% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:26 |
| Weather | 64 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 11 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - D.J. Reyburn, First Base - Joe West, Second Base - Kerwin Danley, Third Base - Lance Barksdale |
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