Cardinals 5, Reds 0: Shelby Miller was dominant over seven-plus innings and Matt Adams slugged a three-run homer as visiting St. Louis remained hot with a win in the opener of the four-game series.

Matt Carpenter hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning as the Cardinals won for the ninth time in 10 contests and stayed 4 1/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh in the race for the National League Central crown. Miller (9-9) gave up three hits and struck out four while improving to 5-0 with a 1.74 ERA in seven career September starts.

David Holmberg threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for Cincinnati after starter Dylan Axelrod was forced to leave with a right oblique strain just one out into the game. Brandon Phillips recorded two of the three hits for the Reds, who fell to 3-10 against the division leaders.

Miller set down the side in order five times and threw 54 of his 81 pitches for strikes before departing after Phillips' leadoff single in the eighth. Pat Neshek came on to retire the side and Sam Freeman closed it out with a quick ninth.

Pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk doubled to begin the top of the seventh against Manny Parra (0-3) and Kolten Wong singled before Carpenter brought them both in with a base hit to center field that made it 2-0. Adams greeted Logan Ondrusek - the seventh Cincinnati pitcher of the night - with his 15th blast of the season one out into the ninth as the Cardinals improved to 40-24 against divisional opponents.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Axelrod retired Carpenter and was 2-2 on Jon Jay before departing in favor of Holmberg, who got the third strike on Jay and fanned four more while allowing four hits and walking two. ... Cardinals LF Matt Holliday was 2-for-5 after sitting out Sunday's win in Milwaukee with back tightness. ... Reds RHP Pedro Villarreal left in the ninth after being hit on his right arm with a comebacker off the bat of Holliday. Adams followed with his three-run shot against Ondrusek.