CINCINNATI _ There is a temptation here to come up with a quick, snazzy pun about the Cardinals' bench players rising up to continue the winning streak and give the team its first winning record of the season.
That would be played off the fact that, in Cincinnati, where Johnny Bench called and manned home, Yadier Molina surpassed the Hall of Famer on Saturday in innings caught.
Greg Garcia hit two home runs to drive the Cardinals to a 6-1 victory Saturday at Great American Ball Park. The first home run was Garcia's first off a left-handed pitcher in his career, and the second gave him his first multi-homer game of his career. Garcia added a double to become the first Cardinals player with 10 total bases against the Reds since Albert Pujols in April 2010.
Garcia had three RBIs.
That coupled with Miles Mikolas' strong seven innings put the Cardinals at 8-7 overall this season. It's the first time they've had a winning record this season. Like Luke Weaver the night before, Mikolas took a no-hitter through the first turn by the Reds' lineup. The right-hander struck out four and the only run he allowed came on a solo homer by the Reds' catcher, Tucker Barnhart.
With nine innings behind the plate, Molina surpassed Bench's career total of innings caught. Molina has 14,4931/3 innings.
He'll surpass Ted Simmons later, if he stays healthy.
The Cardinals did find an inning of work for Greg Holland as well. Manager Mike Matheny said it was a priority to get their closer-in-waiting an inning, and Matheny provided with the eighth inning. Holland struck out Billy Hamilton with a breaking ball, allowed a single, and then faced Joey Votto with two outs. Holland got a 94-mph fastball clipped back at him for a groundout that ended the inning. Holland had to jump to get the chopped grounder.
It is his first appearance for the Cardinals without issuing a walk.
