A day after playing a doubleheader (which the Reds were swept in) due to a Tuesday rainout, the Reds lost Thursday starter Andrew Abbott after just four innings to a rain delay but still prevailed on the back of a strong hitting performance and more effective pitching out of the bullpen.

A 97-minute delay abbreviated Matthew Liberatore's start and pushed the Cardinals into bullpen choices to preserve arms, not chase, in a 9-1 loss to Cincinnati.

After the Tuesday game was rained out and a doubleheader played Wednesday, Thursday's 12:40 p.m. game entered a rain delay with the Reds leading 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning at Great American Ball Park.

"I know I'm better than how I performed tonight," the No. 6 Reds prospect said after allowing nine runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Chase Petty, a star pitching prospect for the Reds and a top-100 prospect overall in baseball, exited the second game of the Reds' day-night doubleheader after 2 1/3 innings against the Cardinals.