The St. Louis Cardinals scored five runs in the seventh inning in a 6-1 win against the visiting Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

Starting pitcher Andre Pallante (5-3) was effective through six scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing just two hits for the Cardinals, who have won four in a row and five of six.

Brady Singer (7-5) gave up one run on four hits and fanned seven in six innings for the Reds, who have lost two straight after a four-game winning streak.

Leading 1-0 in the seventh, St. Louis took advantage of a shaky Cincinnati bullpen to pad its advantage.

With one out, Scott Barlow walked Pedro Pages and caught Victor Scott II in the knee with a slider. He was replaced by Taylor Rogers, who walked Brendan Donovan to load the bases. Masyn Winn singled to drive in Pages and one out later Nolan Gorman drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Scott to make it 3-0.

The Reds dipped into the bullpen again, with Tony Santillan coming in for Rogers. A throwing error by Gavin Lux to first allowed both Donovan and Winn to score, and then Gorman came around on Lars Nootbaar’s single.

Cincinnati broke the shutout in the top of the eighth off reliever John King. Santiago Espinal led off with a pinch-hit single to deep right and came around to score on Jose Trevino’s double after a throwing error by right fielder Jordan Walker.

The Cardinals opened the scoring in the third. Donovan reached on a fielder’s choice, went to third when Winn connected for a double, and scored on Alec Burleson’s sacrifice fly to center.

The Reds struggled to connect, managing just one hit — a two-out single from Matt McLain in the top of the third to extend his hit streak to eight games — and just three total baserunners through the first six innings.

Cincinnati didn’t record its second hit until the top of the seventh when Elly De La Cruz put a single into right field, which marked the end of Pallante’s outing.