CINCINNATI _ The storm of offense that the Cardinals have spent most of the early weeks of the season waiting to arrive stirred to action late in Thursday's visit to Great American Ball Park.
All it took was the Reds pitchers to hit the ignition.
Two home runs and then five consecutive walks led to a seven-run seventh inning and lifted the Cardinals to a 13-4 victory. Jose Martinez had one of the home runs in the inning and finished the game with six RBIs, the last of which came in the ninth inning as he clubbed a double off Reds infielder Cliff Pennington. It got that difficult for the Reds, who have one of the most hospitable pitching staffs in the league. They turned to a position player to finish off their 10th loss of the season.
The game jockeyed back and forth while the starters were in the game. Michael Wacha went five innings and allowed four runs (three earned). He walked three and struck out five, and by the time he was lifted for a pinch-hitter, the Cardinals had just inched forward for a one-run lead.
That was enough to get Wacha (2-1) the win.
Though the deluge of runs came innings after the left the game to the bullpen. Marcell Ozuna, Paul DeJong, Martinez, and Yadier Molina hit the four home runs for the Cardinals. Leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler was on base four times in his six plate appearances, and he scored three runs. The 13 runs were a season-high for the Cardinals.
Mike Mayers pitched the final three innings of the game for the Cardinals, allowing two hits and zero runs.
