ST. LOUIS — After winning 16 games in 2000, Garrett Stephenson waited 20 months for the next victory.

        Stephenson allowed a run in five innings on Sunday and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Reds 10-1.

        “It feels like a really long time,” Stephenson said. “You've got to get your first win before you get your second.

        “I'll just keep going out there and busting my tail and let these guys play defense behind me and quit walking so many people — I hate walking people,” he said.

        Stephenson (1-2) overcame a rocky opening in his second start since coming off the disabled list from a lower back strain, winning for the first time since Sept. 11, 2000. He gave up a home run to Barry Larkin to lead off the game and walked three the first two innings.

        Stephenson, who began the day with an 0- 4career record and 5.45 ERA against the Reds, got a visit from pitching coach Dave Duncan in the first and did a lot of stretching in the dugout between the first and second innings, and seemed to loosen up the rest of his stint. He allowed four hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

        “You could tell he was really struggling to find it,” manager Tony La Russa said. “We were just looking for a key to get him in a groove. A lineup like that, they make you pay if you're not sharp.”

        Stephenson missed all of last year after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery. This was Stephenson's fifth start of the season.

        Eli Marrero and Tino Martinez hit three-run homers for the Cardinals, who have won eight of 10 and are 5-1 so far on a 10-game homestand.

        Martinez hiked his average to .214 with a 2-for-4 day.

        “I never lost my confidence,” Martinez said. “Right now with my average, I'm just taking it day by day and I'll try to hit better month to month instead of looking back at what I haven't done.”

Cardinals 10, Reds 1 Reds Box, Runs Reds need relief, call up Almanzar Reds Notebook: Griffey needs more time Stephenson ends long wait for win Pirates 5, Astros 3

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