Encarnacion searching for consistency

ST. LOUIS -- For Reds fans who have wailed for better than three seasons over third baseman Edwin Encarnacion's defense, this statement will come as a jolt.

"Some day, he has a chance to be gold out there," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

That's gold, as in Gold Glove -- which is awarded for excellence in defense.

Encarnacion made two potentially game-saving plays in the Reds' 4-3 win over the Cardinals on Monday night. In the seventh, he saved a run with a marvelous diving stop to his left on Yadier Molina's sharp grounder.

In the ninth, Encarnacion made the final out with a long run and sliding catch on Chris Duncan's tough pop foul near the Reds' third-base dugout.

"I almost went into the dugout," Encarnacion said. "I said in my mind, 'You're going to catch that ball, no matter how.' I didn't care if I hit the wall."

Encarnacion also had RBI doubles in the second and third innings.

With the good plays, also comes inconsistency. In the fifth, he made a throwing error on Albert Pujols' one-out grounder. The throw pulled first baseman Joey Votto off the bag.

"Most of his errors are simple errors. He starts guiding the ball," Baker said.

But when there's only time to make a quick reaction, Encarnacion usually nails his throws. He did just that on the Molina play. After the diving snag, he threw sharply to second base from the ground for the force play and third out in the inning.

"When you're focused on the game, you have opportunities to make plays like that," said Encarnacion, who is on the field early most days taking grounders with infield coach Chris Speier.

"He's made some great plays," Baker said. "It's just a matter of consistency. He works at it. He's very conscious of it. Chris works with him constantly. He's going out there for extra work."

As for the Gold Glove, it'd be quite a feat for someone who committed 25 errors in 2006. Still 25, Encarnacion has plenty of years to get better.

"I know I can do it," he said. "I just have to keep working, keep looking forward. I know I'm going to have great defense for the rest of my career."

Pitching matchup
CIN: RHP Johnny Cueto (1-2, 4.05 ERA)
After he owned a 2.03 ERA through his first two games, Cueto has a 5.40 ERA (20 innings, 12 earned runs) over his past three starts. The Reds are 1-4 when the 22-year-old pitches.

STL: RHP Joel Pineiro (1-2, 5.29 ERA)
Pineiro continued his mastery of the Pirates, tossing seven innings and allowing one run on four hits in a 6-2 Cards win on Thursday. Pinerio, who didn't have a strikeout in his first two starts, recorded six against the Pirates and only allowed one walk.

Short hops
The Reds stranded 10 men on base in Monday's win. They are now 2-3 in one-run games on the road and 6-3 in one-run games overall. ... Cincinnati has 12 doubles over its past three games.

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Up next
• Wednesday: Reds (Aaron Harang, 1-3, 2.76) at Cardinals (Braden Looper, 3-1, 4.05), 1:15 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Reds (TBD) at Braves (Tim Hudson, 3-2, 3.74), 7:30 p.m. ET