ST. LOUIS, April 23 (UPI) -- Kyle McClellan waited out a long rain delay before holding Cincinnati to two runs in six innings Friday, helping the St. Louis Cardinals fight off the Reds 4-2.
The game started more than 2 hours late because of thunderstorms but the Cardinals survived the long night to pick up their third straight win.
Albert Pujols staked St. Louis to an early lead with a sacrifice fly in the first and an RBI single in the second. Lance Berkman then scored in the third on a fielding error by Cincinnati right fielder Jay Bruce.
Yadier Molina singled in Berkman with the final St. Louis run in the fifth.
McClellan (3-0) worked around seven hits and three walks. He struck out two.
Mitchell Boggs allowed a hit in the ninth before collecting his second save.
Scheduled Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez was scratched because of the rain delay and the loss went to Matt Maloney (0-1), who allowed three runs on eight hits in two-plus innings.