CINCINNATI — To open a series the Cardinals need to assert their place, still, in the thick of the National League wild-card race, they got the kind of start they wanted from Jon Lester.
The veteran lefty, back in the familiar haunt of Great American Ball Park, had as many hits (one) as he allowed through a strong 6 1/3 innings that carried the Cardinals toward a win – and an immediate test of their new approach to the late innings. An early gust of runs, highlighted by Paul Goldschmidt’s 22nd home run of the season, fed to a late look at Giovanny Gallegos, this time recast as closer.
Gallegos retired the Reds in order to cement the 3-1 victory for his third save of the season at the end of a peppy, well-paced and well-played game.
