St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds — Maj 23, 2026 | AI-prognos & statistik

Game 1 of this split doubleheader begins under heavy drizzle at Great American Ball Park, with both teams adjusting to the makeup game atmosphere. Andre Pallante takes the mound first and immediately benefits from the conditions, as his slider grips better in the moisture. Jordan Walker leads off the second inning with a sharp single to right, and after a wild pitch from the struggling Chris Paddack, Walker advances to second. Victor Scott II drives him home with a two-out single, giving St. Louis an early 1-0 advantage. The Reds respond quickly in the bottom of the second when JJ Bleday doubles off the wall in left-center, then scores on Matt McLain's ground-ball single through the right side. Cincinnati breaks through for two runs in the fourth inning as Elly De La Cruz launches Pallante's hanging slider over the left field wall for his 12th homer, followed by consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly. The Cardinals answer immediately in the fifth when Pallante helps his own cause with an RBI single, then JJ Wetherholt adds a two-run double down the line to reclaim the lead 4-3. The game enters the late innings as a classic National League Central slugfest, with both bullpens working carefully in the drizzle. Cincinnati manufactures the tying run in the sixth on a walk, stolen base, and McLain's clutch RBI single. The decisive moment comes in the ninth inning when De La Cruz reaches on an infield single, steals second base with his blazing speed, and scores the winning run on Nathaniel Lowe's opposite-field single to right. The Reds walk off 5-4, taking game one of the split doubleheader as the Great American Ball Park crowd celebrates through the persistent drizzle.