A 97-minute delay abbreviated Matthew Liberatore's start and pushed the Cardinals into bullpen choices to preserve arms, not chase, in a 9-1 loss to Cincinnati.

After the Tuesday game was rained out and a doubleheader played Wednesday, Thursday's 12:40 p.m. game entered a rain delay with the Reds leading 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning at Great American Ball Park. Andrew Abbott started the game for the Reds. Matthew Liberatore was the starter for the Cardinals.

If ever there was a gritty, desirable split in a four-game series, the Cincinnati Reds achieved just that against the St. Louis Cardinals.