CINCINNATI • The Cardinals' nightmare of the last 10 games (eight losses) is over.
Having overcome a 2-0 deficit with two runs in the fifth and going ahead on Tommy Pham's two-run homer in the sixth, they scored five runs in the eighth, sparked by Matt Adams' pinch homer, to ride to a 9-2 victory Sunday over the Cincinnati Reds, who had won the first three games of this four-game series.
Starter Michael Wacha, who allowed three hits and four walks but only two runs in six innings, raised his record to 16-5.
Besides the reappearance of timely hitting, the Cardinals' defense was exceptional as Jason Heyward saved a catch by going over the right-field wall to pull back a homer and catcher Yadier Molina finally threw out National League basetealing leader Billy Hamilton when the game still was in doubt.