Lively’s last win as a starter came as a member of the Phillies on Sept. 29, 2017, against the Mets. A fourth-round draft pick by the Reds in 2013, Lively spent time with the Phillies and two seasons as a reliever for the Royals before a two-year stint in South Korea.
Lively (2-2) worked six innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out eight. It was the 31-year-old right-hander’s longest effort since April 20, 2018, when he also went six inning for the Phillies in a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh.
The Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar homered, hitting leadoff shots in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
St. Louis left-hander Steven Matz remained winless after giving up up four runs in the first inning. Matz (0-6) allowed a season-high 11 hits and matched a season high by allowing six earned runs.
The Reds scored in the first inning for the fifth straight game when Tyler Stephenson plated two runs with a single. Newman’s two-out, two-run double made the score 4-0.
Cardinals right fielder Oscar Mercado appeared to rob McClain of an extra-base hit in the fourth inning, but the ball popped out of his mitt and into the stands for a solo homer, making the score 6-1.
St. Louis second baseman Nolan Gorman extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the third.
TRAINERS ROOM
Cardinals: OF Dylan Carlson (left ankle sprain) took some swings Wednesday from the right side. He will swing from the left side in a few days. .... OF Tyler O’Neill (lower back strain) hit off a tee Wednesday. He has had two setbacks in his recovery.
Reds: OF TJ Friedl, who returned on Tuesday after missing 10 games with a left oblique strain, was given a day off on Wednesday to ease him back into action. He was available off the bench.
UP NEXT
Reds RHP Luke Weaver (1-2, 6.54) will make his first start against his former team, while Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (2-1, 4.77) is looking for his first win at Great American Ball Park since April 14, 2018.
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