St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 0

Yadier Molina hit a three-run blast and three days’ rest proved to be the perfect amount for Jake Westbrook as the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the visiting Cincinnati Reds, 3-0, on Sunday.

Westbrook (2-2), who was starting on short rest after lasting only three innings in his previous start, allowed just three hits in six innings while striking out four.

Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday scored runs for the Cardinals, who took two of three in the series to move back into a first place tie in the National League Central.

It was not all good news for St. Louis, as Albert Pujols was removed after the seventh inning due to tightness in his left hamstring.

Westbrook and Edinson Volquez (2-1) traded zeros through the first five innings before the Cardinals finally got something going in the sixth. Volquez got Pujols to pop out to begin the frame but surrendered a double to Holliday and intentionally walked Berkman.

Daniel Descalso fouled out to first for the second out but Molina came up next and drove Volquez’s 100th pitch out to deep left-center for his first homer.

Fernando Salas and Eduardo Sanchez got the ball to Mitchell Boggs, who worked a scoreless ninth for his third save.

• St. Louis will play their next game on the road against Houston. The Cardinals have a W/L % of .545 after a win and .545 after a loss.
• Cincinnati will play their next game on the road against Milwaukee. The Reds have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .500 after a loss.