Pallante hadn’t pitched in a game since he started against the San Francisco Giants at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., on June 20.

Pallante entered Friday night’s game having won each of his four previous career decisions against the Reds (4-0) in 13 total appearances. He’d compiled an ERA of 1.55 against the Reds in his career.

Pallante began this season in the Cardinals’ bullpen, but he went down to the minors and stretched out as a starting pitcher. He’s started since he returned to the majors. His first start since the 2022 season came against the Reds in Cincinnati on May 29. He pitched six scoreless innings and allowed three hits and three walks to get the win.

In three previous career starts against the Reds, he’d posted a 1.65 ERA.

Entering the night, Pallante had appeared in 123 career games in the majors and he’d posted a career ERA of 4.01.

Manufacturing a lead

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the third inning after a leadoff double ripped off the right-field wall by Siani. The double came off Siani’s bat with an exit velocity of 104.1 mph.

Siani then advanced to third base on a grounder to the right side of the infield by Donovan. That put a runner on third with just one out.

Willson Contreras walked to give the Cardinals two base runners with just one out, and that brought Burleson to the plate.

Burleson, who’d fouled off six pitches from Reds starting pitcher Frankie Montas in his first-inning plate appearance, hit a fly ball to shallow center field. De La Cruz, the Reds shortstop, drifted backward and made the catch in the outfield.

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