Cincinnati breaks losing streak by beating St. Louis 5-3.By R.B. Fallstrom

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Aaron Boone gave the struggling Cincinnati Reds a little something to smile about.

Boone homered for the first time in 20 games and had three RBIs Monday as the Reds ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds, coming off a three-game sweep by last-place Milwaukee, won for only the second time in their last 10 road games.

"Hopefully this will get us going and we can finish the month strong," Boone said. "It's been frustrating for us but you know it's part of the game and now we've got a job to do."

Shawn Estes (5-11) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings for the Reds, starting a six-game trip after a 2-5 homestand. Adam Dunn, who had been in an 8-for-67 slump, had three hits including a first-inning RBI single.

Eli Marrero had two hits, including a two-run double in the fourth, for the Cardinals. Marrero had homered in his previous three games.

Boone hit his 24th homer, his first since Aug. 13, with a runner on in a three-run first against Garrett Stephenson (1-5). He had been homerless in 73 at-bats and entered the game in a 12-for-71 slump (.169).

Boone add an RBI double in the fifth that put the Reds ahead 4-3. Jose Guillen added a run-scoring single, his second of the game, in the fifth.

"It's been kind of an up-and-down season like that for me," Boone said. "Today, I felt like they were the best at-bats I've had in a while consistently throughout the game and hopefully this is something that gets me going personally."

Estes won for the first time in four starts since he was acquired from the Mets on Aug. 15 and raised his road record to 2-6. Estes lost to the Cardinals in Cincinnati last Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings.

"I felt I pitched pretty good in my last start against them," Estes said. "Actually I felt like I pitched better than this time, we just ended up scoring a bunch of runs today and the bullpen picked me up and did a great job."

Danny Graves pitched a perfect ninth for his 31st save in 38 chances.

Stephenson made his second start since coming off the 60-day disabled list. After throwing four shutout innings last Wednesday in Cincinnati, he gave up five runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings, falling to 1-5 for his career against the Reds.

"My mechanics are coming back and I'm working, I guess, on the mental part," Stephenson said. "I made some not very good decisions today on my pitches."

Stephenson's lone victory this year was May 19 against Cincinnati.

Albert Pujols drove in the Cardinals' other run with a first-inning sacrifice fly but was 0-for-3, ending a 10-game hitting streak. Pujols, who has a groin injury, tried to leg out a bunt hit in the eighth but was thrown out.

"I haven't talked to him yet," manager Tony La Russa said. "Maybe that means his leg's feeling better, so he'll play the outfield tomorrow."

Noteworthy

Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen will undergo an MRI on his sore shoulder today. Isringhausen was injured warming up on Friday. "Nothing to worry about," Isringhausen said.

Fernando Vina was hit for the 16th and 17th times this season, giving him 67 during the last three seasons. When Vina got nicked on the shoulder in the fifth, Estes claimed Vina backed into the pitch. After yelling at Vina from the mound, Estes headed to first to confront him before being stopped by 2B umpire Bill Welke. Both benches and bullpens briefly cleared.

Cardinals 1B Tino Martinez sat out for the second straight game with a left biceps strain but is expected to play today.

CF Jim Edmonds, in a 3-for-15 slump, did not start against the left-handed Estes but struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth.