ST. LOUIS _ Taking a 94-mph fastball in the back never felt so good for Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.
After being plunked by Cincinnati pitcher Ross Ohlendorf, Molina smiled and celebrated because with the bases loaded it gave the Cards a 5-4 come-from-behind victory.
The Cardinals scored all five of their runs in the ninth inning. The crowd of 40,616, which didn't have much to cheer for throughout the night, celebrated an unusual walk-off win to cap off a 3-hour, 10-minute game.
The Cards snapped their two-game losing streak in improbable fashion. They were shut out through eight innings and had left seven runners on base.
But in the ninth, Matt Carpenter drilled a two-out shot to left field with the bases loaded to bring in two runs. Stephen Piscotty then singled to score another run, pulling the team to within 4-3.
Cincinnati walked Matt Holliday, loading the bases. The Reds brought in Ohlendorf to face Brandon Moss, who had a chance for a walk-off hit. He had been 0 for 4 before the at-bat, which he forced to a 3-2 count.
Then with the Busch Stadium crowd at its feet, Moss took ball four, tying the game at 4. The runners advanced 90 feet and when Molina was hit by Ohlendorf's pitch, the Cardinals had a win.
All four of Cincinnati's runs came in the opening three innings. Zack Cozart had a two-run double off Cardinals starter Michael Wacha in a three-run second inning and the Reds added another in the third.
Wacha settled down, and after leaving in the sixth inning, the Cardinals got some quality relief work, setting the stage for the come-from-behind win.
