Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Ryan Ludwick went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and four RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals downed the Cincinnati Reds, 7-2, in the opener of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer, but left in the seventh inning with a strained left calf, while Rick Ankiel also hit a solo homer for the Cardinals, who have won three straight. Mitchell Boggs (1-0) got the first win of his career as he went five innings and gave up two runs on four hits.

Edwin Encarnacion went 3-for-4 while Joey Votto hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who have dropped three of their last four. Homer Bailey (0-2) got the loss as he was banged up for five runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work.

Just one day after hitting the 600th home run of his career, Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-3 with a walk.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the third inning with four runs. With one out, Brendan Ryan doubled to left and, after Skip Schumaker lined out, came home on a double from Ludwick. Pujols followed with a blast over the center field wall and Ankiel then belted a pitch into the right field stands.

St. Louis tacked on another run in the fourth as Ryan walked, stole second and came home on a double from Ludwick for a 5-0 lead.

The Reds got two of the runs back in the bottom of the fourth when Adam Dunn walked and Votto followed with a shot over the center field fence.

Ludwick led off the seventh with a towering shot to left-center for a 6-2 advantage.

In the ninth, St. Louis added to its lead as Ryan led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and easily crossed the plate on a single from Ludwick.

After Boggs was replaced on the mound to start the sixth, the Cardinals bullpen gave up just one hit and struck out five over the final four innings.