CINCINNATI — With the bases loaded due in part to an error and two walks in the second inning, Cardinals starter Andre Pallante faced Cincinnati leadoff hitter, left-handed batter TJ Friedl. Pallante did what he does and has for a few years in those spots:

He attacked Friedl with fastballs, falling behind on the first and falling into a pattern with the second.

Friedl flared the second fastball toward center field for a two-run single and the Reds’ first lead Sunday at Great American Ball Park.

Hours later, as he discussed his start, Pallante referenced that at-bat and those two pitches and offered a review that was as revealing as it was short.

“That’s what I was,” he said.

The rest of the game was him trying to explore what he could be.

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