GatewayRedbirds.com

Cincinnati(4-8) at St. Louis(9-3)

April 19, 2012
1:45 PM ET, 12:45 PM CT, 11:45 AM MT, 10:45 AM PT
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
TV: FSOH, FSMW
RADIO: KMOX 1120

After Adam Wainwright missed all of 2011 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, it was understood it would take time for the former 20-game winner to regain his dominance and an occasional dud could be expected.

He is coming off one such bomb.

Wainwright tries to bounce back from a miserable outing and lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a fifth straight victory Thursday against the slumping Cincinnati Reds.

After finishing second in voting for the 2010 NL Cy Young Award, Wainwright (0-2, 11.42 ERA) missed all of last season recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. He put together an encouraging outing for St. Louis (9-3) in his 2012 debut, yielding three runs and four hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-0 loss in Milwaukee on April 7, but his next outing was far worse.

The right-hander was tagged for eight runs and seven hits - including two homers - in three innings in Friday's 9-5 home loss to the Chicago Cubs. It was the second-most runs ever allowed by Wainwright, who entered this season with a major league-best 2.46 home ERA since 2006.

"We've seen so many positive things from him this year, and he's been so far ahead of what the expectations were, so we know there are a lot of good things yet to be seen," manager Mike Matheny told the Cardinals' official website. "(Friday) is just one of those days where you have to step back and gather yourself and figure out what has to be different."

Facing a struggling Cincinnati offense could help Wainwright, who is 0-2 for the first time in his career.

Carlos Beltran - one of five St. Louis players to drive in a pair of runs - hit a two-run homer after hitting a solo shot in Tuesday's series-opening 2-1, 10-inning victory. Hitting in the No. 2 spot in the order, Beltran is batting .341 with five homers, seven RBIs and has a .460 on-base percentage.

"I know I'm not the typical second batter that's going to go out there and play the hit-and-run and things like that,'' said Beltran, signed by St. Louis in the offseason in the hopes that he would ease the pain of losing Albert Pujols in free agency. "I'm not thinking that way. I'm thinking about getting good at-bats.''

In 18 career at-bats against scheduled starter Bronson Arroyo (0-0, 2.63), Beltran is batting .278 with a homer and two doubles.

ST. LOUIS (AP) Carlos Beltran may not be Albert Pujols, but he's doing a pretty good impression these days.

Beltran homered again Wednesday night to help the St. Louis Cardinals extend their winning streak to a season-high four games with an 11-1 rout of the slumping Cincinnati Reds.

Beltran hit a two-run shot, which was his fifth homer overall and second of the series.

Not bad for a second-place hitter.

''I know I'm not the typical second batter that's going to go out there and play the hit-and-run and things like that,'' Beltran said. ''I'm not thinking that way. I'm thinking about getting good at-bats.''

The Cardinals signed Beltran in the offseason in the hopes that he would ease the pain of losing Pujols in free agency. So far, he's done just that.

''Beltran's an All-Star, Golden Glove, Silver Bat,'' Reds manager Dusty Baker said. ''The guy has some accolades behind him, too.''

Pujols, meanwhile, began the day with no home runs this year. The three-time NL MVP joined the Los Angeles Angels in the offseason.

Tyler Greene also had a two-run homer while Rafael Furcal had four hits and drove in two runs.

Jaime Garcia (2-0) allowed one run on seven hits and three walks. He was aided by four double plays and helped his cause with a triple off the wall in center field in the sixth that made it 7-1 and chased Mat Latos (0-2).

''He killed us with the bat and the ball,'' Baker said. ''He kept us off-balance and he got those double plays. Four double plays, that's a killer. That's eight outs on four pitches.''

Garcia was happy for the help from his defense.

''The double plays are a good sign,'' he said. ''Basically every time I get someone on base, that's what I want to do.''

The Cardinals greeted Latos rudely as Furcal doubled down the line in right leading off the first and Beltran followed with a walk.

Furcal later scored on Lance Berkman's infield single and David Freese delivered a two-run double.

Beltran made it 5-0 when he homered with two out in the second. That was not an uncommon occurrence - Beltran had also homered off Latos in his two other official at-bats coming into Wednesday, though Latos did later retire Beltran for the first time in the fourth on a groundout.

NOTES: Adam Wainwright, who has never started a season 0-2, will try to avoid a third consecutive defeat when he takes the ball for St. Louis on Thursday. ... Of the eight position players that started for the Reds, only three were hitting better than .200 at the beginning of the night. ... Berkman left the game in the fifth inning after aggravating a left calf injury. He was to be re-evaluated but Berkman acknowledged after the game that he could be headed toward the disabled list. ... Reds starters have not earned a victory since Johnny Cueto beat Miami 4-0 on opening day.

'He killed us with the bat and the ball,'' Baker said. ''He kept us off-balance and he got those double plays. Four double plays, that's a killer. That's eight outs on four pitches.''