Reds’ bullpen carries load after Volquez injury in 5-3 win over Cardinals

Bullpen helps Reds beat Cardinals 5-3

ST. LOUIS — Mike Lincoln and four other Cincinnati relievers allowed one earned run in eight innings after Edinson Volquez left early his first start since coming off the disabled list early, and the Reds rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 on Monday night.

Lincoln (1-0) gave up only Colby Rasmus’ sixth homer in three innings of relief and Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 14th save in 14 chances and 28th in a row dating to last July.

Volquez left complaining of numbness in the pinky and ring finger of his pitching hand after allowing a run on two hits. He will be examined in Cincinnati on Tuesday. Volquez, a 17-game winner last year, had been on the disabled list with back spasms.

Cincinnati rebounded after getting swept in a three-game series at Milwaukee and ended a six-game road losing streak thanks to a strong showing by the bullpen.

Reds relievers weren’t exactly rested after Micah Owings lasted 5 2-3 innings on Sunday in Milwaukee and Aaron Harang was chased after 4 1-3 innings two days earlier.

Laynce Nix had two hits and his two-run double off Todd Wellemeyer (5-5) capped a three-run go-ahead third for the Reds, who totaled six runs the previous three games.

Rasmus singled, homered and doubled in his first three at-bats before grounding out in the eighth against Arthur Rhodes as the Cardinals lost for the third time in four games. Albert Pujols escaped injury running the bases on his first-inning RBI double, getting attention after getting his foot caught in the dirt just before sliding.

Opponents are hitting .303 against Wellemeyer, who lasted five innings and left trailing 4-2. Wellemeyer faced the minimum through three innings with the help of catcher Jason LaRue’s pickoff of Brandon Phillips in the first before running into trouble. He is 2-4 with a 5.35 ERA in seven starts at home.

The Cardinals jumped on Volquez in the first with consecutive one-out doubles by Rasmus and Pujols and led 2-0 after Rasmus’ homer off a 2-0 pitch from Lincoln in the third. Catcher Ryan Hanigan’s first passed ball of the season handed the Cardinals a run in the seventh to cut the deficit to 5-3.