Louis Cardinals: Bringing back the power

Making his second start since he was acquired from Cincinnati, Cueto allowed two runs and five hits with two strikeouts in seven innings.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Chris Gimenez hit what proved to be a deciding home run and the Texas Rangers held for a 4-3 win Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep of the AL West-leading Houston Astros.

Maybe even more importantly, the Cardinals, for the first time this season, have reached 30 games over the. Wacha (13-4) overcame a 68-minute rain delay at the start of Thursday’s game, and then gave his bullpen a rest. It was the fifth begin in his previous six through which Lorenzen has walked three or extra batters.

Carpenter tied it with a homer in the eighth off Hoover, only the third that the reliever has allowed this season. That was more challenging on Thursday afternoon when rain delayed the start of the game by more than an hour and later created less than ideal conditions on the mound.

In both the third and fifth innings, Kinsler hit ground balls to the left side of the infield that looked like inning-ending double plays.

Cardinals catcher, inserted into the lineup to provide a relaxation, delivered a RBI single within the fourth inning off Reds rookie right-hander Michael Lorenzen, placing St. Louis forward 1-Zero.

In the longest of his 25 career outings, Wright allowed a solo home run to Carlos Beltran among four hits. “It’s unfortunate, the damage that was done there in the first”, manager Mike Matheny said.Heyward extended his hitting streak to seven games (10 for 22). Drew Butera led off with a homer, and Kendrys Morales had a two-run double. The Cardinals have a 43-13 record when outhitting opponents.

Gonzalez connected for his 22nd homer in the second to put the Dodgers ahead 6-5. McCutchen homered in the third and had a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

ANGELS 4, INDIANS 3: C.J. Cron hit a tying two-run single with two out and the bases loaded in the ninth inning against Cleveland closer Cody Allen and pinch-runner Taylor Featherston scored on a wild pitch, giving Los Angeles the win. Parker flared a single that scored Paulsen to tie it at 5, tagging Rodney with his sixth blown save in 22 chances. Wacha grounded out, second baseman Phillips to first baseman Votto.

Reds: LHP David Holmberg (1-0) makes his second start since he was called up from Triple-A to take Johnny Cueto’s spot in the rotation. St. Louis ranks in the bottom half at 20th with 420.

It was Carpenter’s fifth homer in his past six games.

Encarnacion hit a three-run drive and Donaldson added a two-run shot.

The Cardinals later confirmed it was a strained proper quad, which is identical damage he had been coping with earlier this season, famous Derrick Goold of the St.

Anderson allowed one run and four hits while striking out five and walking two. Lance Lynn (8-6) is 7-3 career against the Brewers with a 2.53 ERA.