CINCINNATI (AP) — Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina left a game against the Cincinnati Reds with a sore left wrist. Molina grounded out and flied out in his two at-bats before being replaced by Rob Johnson for the bottom of the fifth inning on Monday. The Reds led 6-2. Molina missed 14 games with a strained right knee. He was activated off the disabled list on Aug. 15 and had started 15 games, with manager Mike Matheny going easy on him to prevent a recurrence of the knee problem.

The Cardinals also were missing right fielder Carlos Beltran for the start of their four-game series. Beltran missed his second straight game with a stiff back. Matheny held him out as a precaution. St. Louis and Pittsburgh were tied for the NL Central lead.