Andre Pallante tossed six shutout innings Wednesday in his first start in two years while Nolan Gorman homered for the second straight game to lead the visiting St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Pallante (1-1) allowed three hits and struck out four while walking three, running his shutout string as a starter to 17 innings. The right-hander threw eight scoreless in his last MLB start on July 31, 2022, at Washington, and three straight scoreless in a four-inning start before being pulled at Toronto on July 26, 2022.

Ryan Helsley allowed one run in the ninth but managed to force Elly De La Cruz to ground into a game-ending forceout to record his National League-leading 18th save in 19 chances.

Masyn Winn had three hits and extended his hitting streak to 18 games. His RBI single off Cincinnati starter and loser Frankie Montas (2-4) in the fourth extended the Cardinals lead to 3-0.

Only Joe McEwing has a longer hit streak as a rookie in Cardinals history, batting safely in 25 straight games in 1999.

Despite allowing three runs on six hits over six innings, and earning his third quality start of the season, Montas posted his eighth straight start without a win.

Gorman unloaded his 10th homer of the season for the Cardinals, who captured their fifth straight series and won for the 12th time in 15 games.

Reds center fielder TJ Friedl made his second return this season from the injured list, going 0-for-3 with two walks in his first game since May 12 when he suffered a fractured left thumb after being hit by a pitch.

For the second straight game, a Cardinals pitcher carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning as Pallante walked Friedl to open the game and Jeimer Candelario with one out before retiring the next nine batters.

Jake Fraley singled to center with two outs in the fourth for Cincinnati's first hit.

On Tuesday, Kyle Gibson didn't allow a hit until Will Benson opened the sixth with a solo home run.

The Reds broke through against reliever Kyle Leahy in the seventh when Nick Martini blooped a double in front of a sliding Michael Siani in center. Jonathan India followed with a one-out single to score Martini.

With the Reds threatening, John King entered the game and struck out pinch-hitter Stuart Fairchild and induced a Tyler Stephenson groundout.

-Field Level Media