Miles Mikolas, Cardinals routed by Reds, 11-4, in series opener

An unkind carom starts the third

The Reds pushed their lead to five runs on the strength of a three-run third inning.

Each of the first three batters in the third inning doubled and scored. After a leadoff double that bounded into the left-field stands by Spencer Steer, Martini hit and an RBI double down the first base line that hit the base off the bounce and caromed into right field.

Marte, who played in his first game this season after he served an 80-game suspension for a violation of MLB performance-enhancing drug policy, then hit the third consecutive double of the inning on a line drive over the head of center fielder Dylan Carlson.

Marte tagged up and advanced to third base on a fly ball by Espinal, and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Benson.

Arenado goes deep at home

The Cardinals scored their first runs with two outs in the third inning when Arenado belted a two-run home run to left field. The drive traveled an estimated 370 feet for his first home run at Busch Stadium since May 4. It also snapped a 15-game stretch without a home run. The home run was Arenado’s seventh this season.

Willson Contreras, who drew a one-out walk, scored on that home run.

Arenado entered the day having batted .302 at home this season, despite five of his first six home runs this season having come on the road.

That blast from Arenado moved the Cardinals within three runs, 5-2, at the end of the third inning.

Reds offense keeps rolling

The Reds (38-43) answered with two runs in the fourth on a two-run home run by Steer. That restored the five-run lead for the Reds, and they didn’t lead by fewer than five runs the rest of the game.

They scored three runs in the fifth against Mikolas, including one unearned run aided by a passed ball charged to Pages. The Reds added a run in the seventh inning against reliever John King.