CINCINNATI — While so much more felt possible before things came apart in the evening game of the doubleheader, the Cardinals came to Cincinnati, won a series, nibbled into the Reds’ wild-card lead, and still may have lost something Wednesday night of importance to the standings.
A day and two games off the calendar.
The Cardinals asserted themselves with Paul Goldschmidt’s two homers and 12 quick hits off the Reds’ starter in Game 1. The Reds answered back, aggressively, to split the doubleheader with a 12-2 thumping in Game 2. Nick Castellanos had two home runs, including a grand slam, and six RBIs in his first two at-bats of the night game as the Reds’ followed their 5-4 loss to the Cardinals earlier in the day by reclaiming a 2 1/2 game lead in the wild-card race.
