ST. LOUIS _ Dexter Fowler and Jedd Gyorko homered to back starting pitcher Lance Lynn, who allowed one run in six innings, and the Cardinals opened a three-game series against Cincinnati with a 7-5 win at Busch Stadium on Friday night.
The win was the ninth in the last 11 games and moved the Cardinals within a half game of first-place in the Central Division. At 12-11, the Cardinals are above .500 for the first time since winning their season opener.
Fowler's two-run homer in the third inning gave the Cardinals a 3-1 lead that they built upon with three runs in the sixth inning after a big defensive play by Yadier Molina.
The Reds had loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth when Molina caught Eugenio Suarez napping off of the bag at third base. A quick throw to Jedd Gyorko led to the third out and ended the threat.
Lynn (3-1) turned in his third consecutive strong outing, allowing six hits. One was a solo home run by Scott Schebler in the second inning. Joey Votto hit a two-run homer against Miguel Socolovich in the eighth to make it 7-3, and the Reds added two more runs in the inning before Seung Hwan Oh stopped the rally.
Oh pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.
