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Reds reliever Kevin Quackenbush has six-run meltdown in 9-2 loss to Cardinals

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ST. LOUIS -  Kevin Quackenbush must know how Bryan Price feels.

Nothing the Reds reliever tried worked as the Cardinals battered him for six runs Sunday afternoon and turned a close game into a 9-2 rout.

It was an historically bad performance befitting the worst start in Reds history (3-18).

St. Louis (13-8) swept the three-game series and handed the Reds their fifth straight loss and their third since Jim Riggleman replaced the fired Price as manager last week. The Cardinals have now beaten Reds 11 straight times since last season.

A two-run Reds rally in the sixth inning cut the Cardinals’ lead to 3-2, but then came Quackenbush's nightmare. He gave up a three-run homer to Paul DeJong in the seventh and three more runs in the eighth on Greg Garcia’s two-run double and Yadier Molina’s sacrifice fly.

Quackenbush’s line: 1 IP, 6 ER, 4 hits, two walks.

Reds starter Luis Castillo (1-3) dug a 3-0 hole in the first three innings. Kolten Wong homered in the second and the Cards scored twice in third on Dexter Fowler’s single and Tyler O’Neill’s sac fly. Castillo went five innings, gave up seven hits and walked four.

"At the beginning of the first inning, I knew my command was not good enough," Castillo said. "When that happens, you've got to go out there and compete. And that's what I did for the rest of the game."

The Reds' anemic offense amounted to five hits off Miles Mikolas (3-0), with Jesse Winker’s double and Joey Votto’s infield single driving in the only runs. Mikolas went seven, struck out six and didn’t walk a batter. He was signed as a free agent on Dec. 5 after spending three seasons in the Japanese Central League.  

The Reds have scored three runs or fewer in 15 of 21 games, but it's not for lack of effort, Riggleman said.

"I can promise you this, hitters, whether the results show or not, are giving you 100 percent when they step into the batter's box," Riggleman said. "Their focus is going to be there. It's just not happening right now."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: RHP David Hernandez will likely make his second rehab appearance on Monday for Triple-A Louisville. Hernandez has been bothered by right shoulder inflammation.

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday with right elbow inflammation. RHP John Brebbia was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Brebbia made two appearances earlier in the season and did not allow a run in two innings. ... OF Tommy Pham missed his third game in four days with a right groin strain. He is day-to-day.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Sal Romero (0-2, 5.75 ERA) will face RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-0, 2.91) on Monday in the first of a four-game home series against Atlanta. Romero will be making his fifth start of the season.

Cardinals: St. Louis is undecided on a starter for Tuesday's game against the Mets because of Wainwright's injury. RHP Zack Wheeler (1-1, 2.77) will start the first of the three-game series for the Mets.