MLB: St. Louis 8, Cincinnati 7 (10 inn.)

CINCINNATI, May 10 (UPI) -- A 10th-inning RBI double by Colby Rasmus Sunday lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-7 victory against the Cincinnati Reds.

St. Louis, which averted a three-game sweep, was headed to a 7-5 win before Jerry Hairston Jr. and pitcher Micah Owings, a pinch hitter, unloaded solo homers in the bottom of the ninth.

Chris Duncan led St. Louis with two hits and three RBI. Rasmus has two hits and two RBI.

Skip Schumaker had two runs and two hits, while slugger Albert Pujols scored three times for the Cardinals, had lost five of seven.

The winner was closer Ryan Franklin (1-0) despite a blown save.

Chris Perez earned the save by retiring pinch-hitter Paul Janish with the bases loaded in the 10th.

Cincinnati also got homers from Jay Bruce, Adam Rosales and Joey Votto.

Ramon Hernandez added three hits and one RBI for the Reds, who had won three straight at home.

The losing pitcher was Francisco Cordero (0-2).