Cardinals defeat Reds 6-1 with homers from Winn and Donovan

On Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals secured a 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at home. The game featured standout performances from Masyn Winn and Brendan Donovan, both of whom hit home runs to contribute to the Cardinals' scoring. Starting pitcher Sonny Gray was dominant, achieving a perfect game through five innings before allowing a single in the sixth. He concluded his outing with nine strikeouts, showcasing his effectiveness on the mound. In the sixth inning, the Cardinals took the lead when Winn scored on Lars Nootbaar's sacrifice fly, making it 2-1. The Reds managed to tie the game earlier in the inning with Jonathan India's RBI single. However, the Cardinals quickly regained control, with Donovan hitting a two-run homer in the seventh, marking his first career pinch-hit home run and extending the lead to 4-1. The Cardinals continued to build on their lead, with Thomas Saggese driving in his first career RBI in the eighth inning. The Reds' starting pitcher, Jakob Junis, had a solid performance, allowing only one run over five innings but ultimately could not contain the Cardinals' offense as the game progressed. The victory was significant for the Cardinals as they prepared for their upcoming series against the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, the Reds faced challenges, including an injury to left fielder Will Benson, who left the game due to a finger contusion. This win highlighted the Cardinals' offensive power and pitching depth as they look to improve their standing in the league.