Lester sharp, Goldschmidt HR, Cardinals move up, beat Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jon Lester allowed one hit while pitching into the seventh inning, Paul Goldschmidt homered and the St. Louis Cardinals inched closer to the slumping Cincinnati Reds in the NL wild-card race with a 3-1 win Monday night.

The Cardinals closed within 2 1/2 games of Cincinnati for the second wild-card spot. San Diego is in between them.

The Reds have scored one run in each of their last three games — all losses — and have dropped five of their last seven games. Their top four hitters in the lineup combined to finish 0-for-14.

“We’re a good-hitting team," said Reds shortstop Kyle Farmer, who got Cincinnati's only two hits, including his career-high 12th home run. "Good hitting teams break out of slumps. There’s not much pressing among guys. We’ve faced some really, really good pitching the last five games.”

Lester (5-6), in his sixth start for St. Louis since being acquired from Washington on July 30, retired 16 consecutive batters after giving up his only hit, Farmer’s second-inning leadoff homer.

“Obviously, we all know what’s in front us," Lester said. "We have a lot of games against these guys and the (Central-leading) Brewers coming up. To pitch well is a great feeling. To do it against a team that you’re trying to chase down is even better.”

The veteran left-hander walked two and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings, earning his fourth straight win after losing his first two starts with the Cardinals.

Right fielder Dylan Carlson, who contributed a sliding catch of Joey Votto's flyball in short right-center field in the fourth, described Lester's work as “awesome.”

“He had his game face on, and he had the stuff to match the strong intensity he brought to the game," St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. "He changed speeds well and had the good curveball in...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Lester-sharp-Goldschmidt-HR-Cardinals-move-up-16424159.php