ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds picked the lone fresh arm for a worn-out bullpen, and ended up with a familiar result.

Logan Ondrusek gave up singles to all three batters he faced with one out in the 10th inning, capped by Jhonny Peralta’s game-winner in a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

Ondrusek (3-3) was activated off the disabled list on Monday after being out since July 22 because of a strained right shoulder.

“I would have liked to put him in a little bit of a softer landing, but nevertheless there’s no newness to this situation for him,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “I thought he was the right guy. It just didn’t happen tonight.”

Reds relievers allowed 15 of Colorado’s 20 runs while Cincinnati got swept in a doubleheader on Sunday. Plus All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, who was pulled in Game 1 after walking four straight batters, was unavailable due to shoulder soreness.

Jay Bruce homered, doubled and knocked in four runs for the Reds, giving him nine RBIs in four games. Brandon Phillips returned from left thumb surgery wearing a brace and was 0 for 4 with a walk.

The Reds have lost six of seven, five by one run.

“I’m not going to hammer you guys with this silver lining stuff. Everyone is sick of losing,” Price said. “But I’m proud of these guys.”

Peralta’s RBI single in the first was just his second in 32 at-bats against the Reds this season. He also doubled and scored the tying run on A.J. Pierzynski’s hit off Jumbo Diaz in the eighth.

Bruce doubled off Trevor Rosenthal to tie it in the ninth. Rosenthal was pulled after walking the bases full with one out on Sunday, and he has allowed four runs in 2 1-3 innings in his last three outings.

Seth Maness retired Zack Cozart on a foul pop with the bases loaded to end the top of the eighth.

Bruce’s three-run homer, his 14th shot of the season, capped a four-run fifth against Justin Masterson for a 4-3 lead. Bruce also set a franchise record with his 890th game in right field, breaking the mark by Ival Goodman from 1935-42.

Pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso’s RBI double off Mike Leake tied it in the seventh.

“I felt pretty good, just one bad pitch probably,” Leake said. “I didn’t like walking Holliday (in the first) and didn’t like how I pitched Descalso.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: 2B Phillips played his fourth straight game, counting rehab games. “If he’s physically OK, he’s going to play a lot,” Price said.

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha, on the DL since mid-June with a shoulder injury, got positive reviews from his latest bullpen session Monday.

UP NEXT

Reds: Alfredo Simon (12-8, 3.28) makes his 14th appearance against the Cardinals and first start. He is 15-3 with a 2.70 in 18 career starts before the All-Star break and 0-5 with a 5.46 ERA in six starts after the break.

SHOWTIME

Holliday, Billy Hamilton and Oscar Taveras made nice catches at the wall in left, center and right, respectively. … Actor and Cardinals super fan Jon Hamm, who grew up in suburban St. Louis, bounced a soft first pitch to Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. … Leake, who also doubled, has two homers and four RBIs this season.