Cardinals 3, Reds 1: Carlos Beltran and David Freese continued St. Louis’ power surge with home runs, propelling the defending World Series champions to their fifth victory in six games.

The Cardinals, the top home-run hitting team in the majors with nine entering Tuesday, added two more longballs to their total in winning their third consecutive game.

Beltran hit his third homer of the season off Cincinnati starter Mike Leake in the first, a solo shot to right-center field. Freese continued his torrid start in the sixth, launching a two-run shot to right to score Lance Berkman and give St. Louis a 3-0 advantage.

The Reds answered in the bottom of the sixth. Zack Cozart tripled and scored on Joey Votto’s sacrifice fly to bring Cincinnati within two runs.

Kyle Lohse (2-0), who no-hit the Marlins for six innings on opening night, gave up four hits and the one run in six innings. Leake (0-1) took the loss in his season debut, allowing seven hits in six innings.

Mitchell Boggs pitched two innings of scoreless relief for St. Louis, striking out two. Jason Motte pitched the ninth, recording his second save of the year.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lohse walked one and struck out two, but the one run he allowed raised his ERA to 1.35. … Freese is hitting .444, and his two RBIs gave him 10 for the season, most in the majors. … Cozart’s triple gave him eight hits on the season - five for extra bases (two doubles, two triples, one homer).