ST. LOUIS -- With his first career hit off reliever Trevor Rosenthal, Joey Votto followed the Reds' climb out of a four-run hole with a go-ahead RBI single as Cincinnati stunned the Cardinals with a 5-4 win that salvaged a split of the rain-shortened series at Busch Stadium.
After allowing a sixth-inning run, Cardinals starter Mike Leake exited in position to earn his first career win over the Reds. But that'll have to wait for another day. The Reds erased the Cardinals' 4-1 lead by scoring three runs with two out in the seventh. Then they finished the comeback against Rosenthal, who couldn't wiggle out of a bases-loaded, no-out mess unscathed.
"We make a big deal when we come back from a 4-0 deficit, and I think the same thing [has to be] said on the opposite side when you lose a 4-0 lead," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Those hurt. This is one of those games that we're going to look at and realize we need to put away."
• Reds hope to build off gratifying win
The Reds opened the eighth with a single sandwiched between two walks, and Votto's sharp single up the middle brought in the go-ahead run. Votto had been 0-for-5 previously against the Cardinals' former closer. The Reds finished the game with a season-high 16 hits, 11 of which came over the final four innings.

"The guys battled back," Reds starter Bronson Arroyo said. "A win is a win is a win right now, because we're having a hard time putting two and three together. So just to get one to get out of here is nice."
The bullpen blip cost the Cardinals what would have been their 10th victory in 12 games. They still finish April at .500 -- despite opening the year at 3-9 -- but wasted another quality start from Leake and a big day from Matt Carpenter, whose bases-clearing double chased Arroyo with no outs in the fifth.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Duvall does it all: Outfielder Adam Duvall tied a career high with four hits, including an RBI double that ignited the Reds' three-run seventh. The double was Duvall's third of the game and the first of three consecutive two-out, run-scoring hits that Cincinnati tallied to tie the game.

"I got to stay back on my off day yesterday and work on a couple things," Duvall said. "I was seeing the ball great today."

Clearing the bases: Carpenter continues to have remarkable success hitting with the bases loaded. His bases-clearing double Sunday bumped Carpenter's career average in such spots to .594 (19-for-32). He has tallied 58 RBIs in bases-loaded opportunities, including seven so far this homestand. Against Toronto last week, Carpenter connected for a walkoff grand slam.
"I've always been a guy who is patient at the plate," Carpenter said, when asked about his bases-loaded success. "In that situation, pitchers can't afford to walk you. I feel like with my approach, really honing in on a good pitch to hit, I get them more often in that spot because there's no place to put you. And that's my mindset. I try to put the pressure on the pitcher and then give my best at-bat in that situation."
It hurt the Cardinals, however, that they couldn't push Carpenter home in that fifth inning. He advanced to third with no outs but was thrown out trying to score on a fielder's choice.
QUOTABLE
"I'm pretty happy with where I'm at and pretty happy with where the team is, too. I know we're playing .500, but I still think we have what it takes to put some wins together."
-- Leake, who finishes April with a 1.35 ERA and five quality starts
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Scott Schebler, who grew up a Cardinals fan, has hit safely in eight straight games against the Cardinals. He also has recorded an RBI in seven consecutive games against the Redbirds, becoming the first player to do so since Carlos Beltran (2008-2010).

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Jose Peraza was credited with his seventh stolen base of the season with the help of a two-minute, 12-second replay review. After reaching on a bunt single, Peraza was called out trying to swipe second. But the Reds asked for the umpires to review the call, and it was overturned. Later in the inning, Peraza was thrown out trying to score while Arismendy Alcantara stole second.
WHAT'S NEXT
Reds: Rookie lefty Amir Garrett (2-2, 5.09) opens a four-game series in Cincinnati against the Pirates. First pitch is 7:10 p.m. ET. Garrett got roughed up in his last start, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in 3 1/3 innings at Milwaukee.
Cardinals: The Cardinals will open a four-game home series against the Brewers on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT. Michael Wacha, who made four quality starts in April, will start for St. Louis. He is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three starts at Busch Stadium this year.
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