CINCINNATI -- It read as the same script, only in a different setting Monday night as the Cardinals watched another lead wash away, this time during an abrupt onslaught by the Reds' lineup when it turned over a third time against starter Carlos Martinez.
Four seventh-inning runs led to a 4-2 loss for the Cardinals, who have dropped four straight and fallen back to three games below .500. All four of those games have played out similarly, with the Cardinals grabbing an early lead only to be overtaken late. In each of the last four games, their opponent has scored the decisive run in the seventh inning or later.