ST. LOUIS _ Rain dampened the Cardinals' field. Reds bats dampened the Cardinals' mood.
Rookie reliever Jordan Hicks, who entered the game with a 2.70 ERA, gave up four runs in the seventh, and the Reds won, 8-2. The 21-year-old only recorded one out.
The Cardinals had a 2-0 lead with Jack Flaherty cruising on the mound after five innings, but a lengthy rain delay forced Matheny to change pitchers. The bullpen was unable to hold the lead.
Hicks hit the first batter he faced in the seventh, walked another, and surrendered four hits. Eugenio Suarez singled in two, and manager Mike Matheny had seen enough. He brought in Greg Holland to relieve Hicks.
Flaherty threw just 69 pitches over five scoreless innings. He struck out five and enters the All-Star break with a 3.24 ERA.
Matt Carpenter started the afternoon with a home run, giving him 19 leadoff home runs in his career. Lou Brock (21) is the only Cardinals player with more. He also doubled in the sixth inning.
Starting in the No. 2 slot for the first time this season, Kolten Wong hit a double and scored in the fourth inning, giving the Cardinals' a two-run edge. His batting average is up to .216.
The Reds tacked on two insurance runs against Holland and Tyler Lyons in the eighth and another in the ninth off Bud Norris.
