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Willson Contreras hit a homer and drove in three runs as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals edged the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 Saturday.

Harrison Bader went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI for the Reds (73-71), who lost their third straight game. Tyler Stephenson and Alejo Lopez drove in the other Cincinnati runs.

Starting pitcher Zack Thompson (5-5) allowed three runs on five hits for the Cardinals (63-79), who won for the fifth time in six games. Thompson struck six batters and walked three.

Ryan Helsley closed out the ninth inning to earn his eighth save.

Reds starting pitcher Carson Spiers allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in three innings. Sam Moll (1-4) took the loss.

Cincinnati third baseman Noelvi Marte was hit in the face with an errant throw during pregame warm-ups and was knocked out of the lineup with a contusion.

Reds manager David Bell earned his seventh ejection of the season for arguing balls and strikes with umpire Brennan Miller in the fourth inning. Then Lopez was ejected for arguing another strike call moments later.

The Cardinals jumped to a 1-0 first-inning lead. Lars Nootbaar walked, Nolan Gorman singled with one out and Contreras hit a two-out RBI single.

The Reds surged to a 3-1 lead in the second inning.

Nick Senzel led off with a single and scored on Tyler Stephenson’s one-out double. Lopez followed with a run-scoring double and Bader delivered a two-out RBI single.

St. Louis tied the game 3-3 in the third inning when Nolan Arenado drew a two-out walk and Contreras hit his homer.

The Cardinals moved ahead 4-3 in the fourth inning on Nootbaar’s two-out RBI double. Paul Goldschmidt was walked intentionally, then Gorman walked, but Arenado popped out to leave the bases loaded.

–Field Level Media