CINCINNATI -- Mike Matheny believes in the team concept the St. Louis Cardinals have employed to success throughout this season. Even with eight losses in 10 games, Matheny wasn't seeking out a savior.

"We don't need a superhero right now," he said.

The Cards had plenty of them Sunday, including Matt Adams and Tommy Pham, who each hit two-run homers, and Michael Wacha, who pitched six solid innings helping first-place St. Louis avoid a four-game series sweep with a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

"You hate to lose the last game, but if you would say at the beginning you'd win three of four, we'd take it," said Reds manager Bryan Price.

Six Cardinals batters collected at least one RBI on Sunday.

"We didn't need one guy to have all of them," Matheny said. "If we kept playing the game right, the runs and big innings were going to come. We had big at-bats all game. A lot of people contributing again."

St. Louis (89-54) snapped a three-game losing streak, ensuring it would at least maintain a 2 1/2-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central.

Another streak of futility ended in the seventh inning when Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina threw out Billy Hamilton attempting to steal second. The Reds center fielder had been 10-for-10 against Molina in his career.

Wacha (16-5) pitched around four walks to allow two runs and three hits in six innings to improve to 4-0 this season against the Reds.

"Michael set the tone for us today," said Matheny.

Wacha was aided by a tremendous defensive play in the sixth when right fielder Jason Heyward who came up empty on similar attempts in recent days, went high over the wall to rob Reds second baseman Ivan De Jesus Jr. of a home run.

Reds starter Raisel Iglesias escaped first-inning trouble when he got Molina to ground into a 3-6-1 double play. The initial out call at first was overturned by replay.

Third baseman Todd Frazier put Cincinnati ahead 1-0 in the second with a 419-foot solo homer to center on a 1-1 pitch from Wacha.

It was Frazier's 33rd homer this season and the 15th allowed by Wacha.

"We played a good Cardinal team and took three out of four," said Frazier. "We'll take that any day of the week. We helped a couple teams. We made the race a little closer. It's hard to take four from any team."

Wacha's command escaped him in the fourth when he walked two and hit a batter to load the bases with one out. Catcher Tucker Barnhart's sacrifice fly put the Reds up 2-0.

St. Louis scored twice in the fifth, once on third baseman Matt Carpenter's RBI single to right that tied the score 2-2.

Iglesias allowed two earned runs and five hits in five innings.

Pham's second homer of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth off right-hander Sam LeCure, put the Cardinals ahead 4-2. It was Pham's first homer since July 5.

LeCure (0-1) took the loss for Cincinnati.

"To get a start and help the team out was huge," said Pham, who got his first start since striking out four times on Sept. 2 against Scherzer. "I don't mind

St. Louis had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh but didn't score before they piled on during a five-run eighth.

Adams iced the victory with his first home run since May 20, a 423-foot, two-run blast off Josh Smith, making the score 9-2.

Adams isn't quite ready to play the field after missing 91 games with a quad injury, but there's nothing wrong with his swing.

"I told him, 'Don't think for a minute I won't be dreaming about more homers like that'," Matheny said.

NOTES: 3B Todd Frazier is the third Reds third baseman to hit 30 or more home runs in a season, joining Tony Perez (1967, 1970) and Deron Johnson (1965). ... Cardinals INF Brandon Moss, mired in an 0-for-23 slump, was given a day off Sunday. ... St. Louis manager Mike Matheny is hoping to have OF Matt Holliday back during the upcoming series in Milwaukee. He's at 70-80 percent, according to manager Mike Matheny. ... Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright threw a bullpen as recently as Friday but still must pass mobility tests before being activated. ... Reds 2B Brandon Phillips was given a day off on Sunday after batting .317 since the All-Star break. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto reached base in 32 straight games, tying a season high.