Reds impede Cards' progress toward winning NL Central

~ Cincinnati claimed its third straight game against St. Louis to win the four-game series

CINCINNATI -- St. Louis' drive toward a Central Division championship hit a Cincinnati speed bump.

Johnny Cueto pitched eight scoreless innings to beat Lance Lynn and send the Cardinals to their third consecutive loss, 1-0, Thursday.

Cueto (18-8) allowed just three hits and hit a batter to help the Reds win their second series in the last 13 against Central Division-leading St. Louis. The Cardinals have lost three straight for the first time since a four-game losing streak Aug. 26 to 30 and finished their eight-game road trip 4-4 after winning three out of four in Milwaukee.

"We're heading home," said center fielder Jon Jay, who came up short of making the crucial play. "We just have to keep playing."

Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his 33rd save and third in the last three games.

"We created an environment where we play the spoiler," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "There is no secret we've struggled with the Cardinals the last several years."

Lynn (15-9) retired 15 straight before Brandon Phillips led off the eighth inning with the Reds' first walk of the game. He went to third on Jay Bruce's single to center field and scored on Ramon Santiago's sinking liner to short center that Jay got a glove on but couldn't hold. Bruce had to hold up to see if the ball was caught and was forced at second.

"I just missed it," Jay said. "I knew I couldn't leave my feet. If I slide, he's tagging. I tried to be aggressive."

"He's made great plays all year," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "That's one he makes all the time. That one just got away."

The Reds have won three straight games for the first time since August 5 to 7 against Cleveland. They finished their home stand 4-3 after losing two out of three against the Mets.

Lynn went into the game 3-0 with a 4.00 ERA in three starts against the Reds this season. Cueto was 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against St. Louis.

"Today, he just outpitched me," Lynn said. "That's part of it."

Cueto retired the last 14 batters he faced after Matt Adams led off the fourth inning with a single and was eliminated in a double play. Cueto finished with seven strikeouts.

Cueto's seven strikeouts give him 220 this season, the most since Jose Rijo led the National League with 227 in 1993.

Lynn allowed three hits and a walk with six strikeouts over eight innings.

Bruce kept the game scoreless with a leaping catch at the right-field fence to rob Adams of a home run leading off the seventh inning. Adams appeared to doff his batting helmet to salute Bruce's play.

Hit man

Jay was hit by a pitch for the 19th time this season, the most in the majors. He was plunked for the third consecutive game.

Trainer's room

* Cardinals: Catcher Yadier Molina got Thursday's game off after playing all of Wednesday's night game. Molina's surgically repaired right thumb still is an issue, manager Mike Matheny said. "You can see the splint," Matheny said. "He's still protecting it and doing things to strengthen it."

* Reds: Catcher Brayan Pena was scratched from the original starting lineup with an illness. Devin Mesoraco started in Pena's place.

Up next

* Cardinals: Adam Wainwright starts tonight as St. Louis opens a 10-day, nine-game home stand with the first of three against Colorado.

* Reds: Mat Latos strives for his first career win at Miller Park as the Reds open a 10-day, nine-game road trip with the first of three at Milwaukee. Latos is 0-4 in six starts at Miller.