ST. LOUIS — Cardinals relievers Luis Garcia (22 innings) and T.J. McFarland (18 1/3) boasted the two longest current scoreless streaks for major league pitchers before Friday night. Garcia extended his. McFarland did not as the Cardinals lost the first game of a critical series to Cincinnati, 4-2.
With the Cardinals and Reds tied at 2 in the ninth, McFarland was victimized by a Reds player who was on the taxi squad until a few hours ahead of the game and a couple of errant throws from Cardinals infielders.
Eugenio Suarez, who had homered for the game’s first run off Jon Lester in the second inning, singled off McFarland and and was run for by Shogo Akiyama. Aristides Aquino tapped into a forceout with both catcher Yadier Molina and second baseman Tommy Edman making good plays.
