DeJong’s grand slam lifts Cardinals to 7-5 victory over Reds

CINCINNATI — Paul DeJong slugged his first career grand slam, helping Dakota Hudson to his first win of the season as the St. Louis Cardinals held on to beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-5 on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series.

The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning on Kolten Wong’s single and walks by Paul Goldschmidt and Brad Miller. DeJong capitalized, sending Anthony DeSclafani‘s full-count pitch over the center field fence for his second homer of the season.

“First of all, the guys did a great job getting on base,” DeJong said. “They made DeSclafani work hard. He threw a lot of pitches. While I was on deck (backup catcher Andrew) Knizner told me to hit the ball straight. I was able to get a 3-2 fastball and ended up trying not to do too much.”

Hudson (1-3) finished with a season-high seven strikeouts and no walks. He allowed four hits and two runs, one earned. With the help of a double play, he faced the minimum 13 batters, starting from the last out of the first through the fifth.

“He’s on the plate,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “The guy’s got good stuff. I love his slider. When his sinker’s down, it’s good — just a really, really nice job.”

He admitted feeling a bit of weight lifted off his shoulders.

“I definitely don’t like losing,” Hudson said. “I hated the fact that was lingering over me a little bit, but I felt like we were right there every time out.”

Goldschmidt collected three hits and DeJong, Wong and Tommy Edman each had two hits for the Cardinals, who won their second straight after dropping four in a row.

Eugenio Suárez drove in four runs for Cincinnati, three on a ninth-inning home run, his eighth of the season. The Reds have lost three of four after winning three straight.

Giovanny Gallegos got two outs for his second save.

The grand slam was the second against the Reds in two games. The Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber capped a 10-1 win on Sunday with a slam, the last of Chicago’s six homers in the game.

DeJong knocked DeSclafani (1-2) out of the game. The new father, in his first start since August 21 after spending three days on the paternity list, labored through 3 2/3 innings. He threw a season-high 92 pitches, surrendering seven hits and seven runs with three strikeouts and four walks. He also hit a batter.

“I was trying to go heater in,” DeSclafani said. “It’s usually a pitch that I run in on to right right-hand hitters. It’s a pitch I get a lot of outs with. It’s a pitch I feel comfortable throwing and no matter the count. Obviously, I’m not trying to walk guys. I think it was just pretty embarrassing overall.”

The Cardinals nicked DeSclafani for single runs in each of the first three innings. Edman and Goldschmidt hit back-to-back doubles in the first. Matt Carpenter walked with one out in the second, went to third on Dexter Fowler’s single to center and scored on Wong’s two-out single to left.

DeSclafani hit Goldschmidt leading off the third. Brad Miller flied out. DeJong singled, and a double steal set up Yadier Molina’s sacrifice fly.

Paul DeJong on his grand slam: “I was on deck and (Andrew) Knizner said ‘hit this ball straight away.’ … Just got a 3-2 fastball I could handle and didn’t try to do too much, and it ended up being a big difference.” #STLCardsBrought to you by your @MidAmericaChevy dealers. pic.twitter.com/PhNp4aYblw

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) September 1, 2020

CAN’T TOUCH HIM

Hudson improved to improve to 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA in six career starts against Cincinnati.

DEADLINE DEALS

The Reds acquired RHP Archie Bradley and cash from Arizona and OF Brian Goodwin from the Angels right at Monday’s 4 p.m. Eastern trade deadline. Utility player Josh VanMeter and OF Stuart Fairchild went to the Diamondbacks. Minor league LHP Packy Naughton and a player to be named went to the Angels.

WELCOME BACK

Before the game, the Reds recalled OF Aristides Aquino from their alternate training site and optioned to the site RHP Joel Kuhnel. Aquino had been the team’s 29th player for Saturday’s doubleheader before being optioned back to the alternate training site.

PAYING THE PRICE

Reds manager David Bell and OF Jesse Winker both were suspended and fined for their involvement in Saturday’s benches-clearing incident with the Cubs in their doubleheader nightcap. 1B Joey Votto was fined. Bell sat out Monday’s game. Winker appealed and played.

TRAINING ROOM

Cardinals: Mike Moustakas nailed Hudson on the right foot with a vicious shot in the seventh inning. Hudson threw Moustakas out at first and, after a brief visit from the trainer, stayed in the game.

UP NEXT

Cardinals:. LHP Kwang Hyun Kim (1-0) limited the Reds to three hits over six innings in his first career start during St. Louis’s 3-0 win on August 22.

Reds: RHP Sonny Gray (5-1) has a combined 1.59 ERA in 22 2-3 innings over four career starts against St. Louis.