Reds 8, Cardinals 3: Devin Mesoraco homered twice for the first time in his career and Jack Hannahan singled in a pair of runs as host Cincinnati rebounded from a blowout loss.

Shin-Soo Choo added a two-run blast for the Reds, who suffered a 13-3 setback in the series opener Friday. Tony Cingrani (5-1) allowed three runs in five-plus innings while striking out seven and walking five to win his first career start against division-rival St. Louis, which fell 1 1/2 games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the National League Central.

Cingrani allowed a run before recording an out as leadoff hitter Jon Jay walked and scored on Carlos Beltran's double. However, the Reds loaded the bases on a single and two walks in the bottom of the first, and Hannahan singled to center to drive in two and put the hosts ahead to stay.

Mesoraco slugged a two-run shot in the fourth and Brandon Phillips made it 5-1 with an RBI double in the fifth. The Cardinals got back two runs in the following frame on a pair of RBI groundouts, but Mesoraco went deep in the eighth before Choo belted his 15th of the season to cap the scoring.

Jake Westbrook (7-6) was charged with five runs on four hits and five walks in five innings as the Cardinals fell for the eighth time in 10 games.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Reds optioned RHP Curtis Partch to Triple-A Louisville and recalled RHP Pedro Villarreal. ... Cincinnati's bullpen threw four perfect innings, striking out six. ... The Cardinals recorded 31 hits in back-to-back 13-run performances before being held to four in this one.