CINCINNATI (AP) — The lopsided win was anticlimactic for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Colby Rasmus’ homer started an eight-run onslaught against slumping Bronson Arroyo, and the Cardinals got another solid start from Chris Carpenter on Sunday for a 10-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that was a perfect finishing touch.

The Cardinals already had learned that first baseman Albert Pujols received the most votes for the All-Star game that will be played at Busch Stadium on July 14. He’ll be joined by catcher Yadier Molina and closer Ryan Franklin, both of whom were picked for the first time.

Franklin, a 36-year-old reliever, started to tear up when he described the standing ovation he got from his teammates in the clubhouse. He’d spent a sleepless night wondering whether he’d be chosen.

‘‘Aw, man, it meant a whole lot,’’ said Franklin, a former starter who has closed games the last two years. ‘‘There was a lot of tossing and turning, a few good dreams, a few bad dreams — about not making it. It’s a cool feeling. I just can’t wait to experience it.’’

By comparison, the game was a sleep walk.

Rasmus hit a two-run homer in the first off Arroyo (8-8), who is 1-5 in his last seven starts. A throwing error by third baseman Edwin Encarnacion let in a pair of runs in the fifth inning, helping the Cardinals pull ahead 8-0 with Arroyo on the mound.

‘‘It was a struggle getting outs,’’ Arroyo said. ‘‘I’m not tired. I didn’t throw that many pitches. I knew I was going to have to stay out there.’’

By that point, the Reds knew they were finished. Carpenter (6-3) wasn’t going to let them back in it.

‘‘They go up 2-0 and that’s almost all they need,’’ manager Dusty Baker said. ‘‘He’s one of the best around. If anybody knows how to keep a slim lead, it’s him.’’

Carpenter bounced back from his worst start of the season, a 6-3 loss to the Giants on Tuesday. The right-hander gave up a run and five hits in seven innings, fanning Laynce Nix on a 94 mph fastball with his 104th and final pitch.

The Cardinals have won four of five. They visit NL Central rivals Milwaukee and Chicago before returning home for the 80th All-Star game.

Reds’ boxscore

Saturday’s Game

Reds 5, Cardinals 2

St. Louis Cincinnati

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Schmkr 2b-lf 4 0 2 0 Dickrsn lf 4 0 1 0

Rasms cf 3 1 1 1 Taveras cf 5 1 3 0

Ludwck ph-rf 1 0 1 0 Votto 1b 4 1 2 2

Pujols 1b 3 1 1 0 BPhllps 2b 3 2 1 0

Duncan lf 2 0 0 0 Bruce rf 4 0 1 0

BrRyan ph-2b 1 0 1 0 Encrnc 3b 4 0 0 0

Ankiel rf-cf 4 0 0 0 HrstnJr ss 4 0 1 1

YMolin c 4 0 1 0 RHrndz c 4 0 1 0

Thurstn 3b 3 0 1 0 Owings p 3 1 1 1

Hwksw p 0 0 0 0 Herrer p 0 0 0 0

TMiller p 0 0 0 0 Masset p 0 0 0 0

LaRue ph 1 0 0 0 Rhodes p 0 0 0 0

BThmp p 1 0 0 0 L.Nix ph 1 0 1 0

JHoffpr 3b 2 0 0 0 Corder p 0 0 0 0

TGreen ss 4 0 0 0

Totals 33 2 8 1 Totals 36 5 12 4

St. Louis 100 001 000 — 2

Cincinnati 111 020 00x — 5

E—Y.Molina (2), T.Greene (4). DP—St. Louis 1. LOB—St. Louis 7, Cincinnati 9. 2B—Hairston Jr. (12), L.Nix (19). 3B—Votto (1). HR—Rasmus (9), Votto (10), Owings (3). SB—Taveras (16). CS—Br.Ryan (4). S—B.Thompson.

IP H R ER BB SO

St. Louis

B.Thompson L,2-5 5 9 5 4 2 4

Hawksworth 2 1-3 3 0 0 0 0

T.Miller 2-3 0 0 0 0 1

Cincinnati

Owings W,6-8 6 2-3 6 2 2 2 6

Herrera 0 1 0 0 0 0

Masset H,7 1-3 0 0 0 0 0

Rhodes H,15 1 1 0 0 0 0

Cordero S,20-21 1 0 0 0 0 1

Herrera pitched to 1 batter in the 7th. Umpires—Home, Gary Cederstrom; First, Jim Wolf; Second, Brian O’Nora; Third, Fieldin Culbreth. T—2:39. A—37,371 (42,319).

Sunday’s Game

Cardinals 7, Reds 4

St. Louis Cincinnati

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Schmkr 2b 4 2 3 0 Dickrsn lf 4 0 0 0

Motte p 0 0 0 0 Taveras cf 4 0 1 0

DReyes p 0 0 0 0 Votto 1b 4 1 1 0

McCllln p 0 0 0 0 BPhllps 2b 3 0 0 0

Rasms cf 4 2 2 2 Bruce rf 4 0 1 1

Pujols 1b 3 2 1 0 Encrnc 3b 4 0 0 0

Duncan ph-1b 1 0 1 0 HrstnJr ss 2 0 2 0

Ludwck rf 5 3 1 0 Roenck p 0 0 0 0

Ankiel lf 3 1 1 1 L.Nix ph 1 0 0 0

YMolin c 5 0 2 2 Fisher p 0 0 0 0

Thurstn 3b 4 0 1 2 Hanign c 2 0 1 0

Crpntr p 3 0 1 1 Arroyo p 0 0 0 0

JHoffpr ph-2b 1 0 1 0 Sutton ss 2 0 0 0

BrRyan ss 5 0 1 0

Totals 38 10 15 8 Totals 30 1 6 1

St. Louis 200 240 002 — 10

Cincinnati 000 000 100 — 1

E—Encarnacion (4). DP—St. Louis 2, Cincinnati 3. LOB—St. Louis 8, Cincinnati 5. 2B—Schumaker (17), Rasmus (18), J.Hoffpauir (1). 3B—Bruce (2). HR—Rasmus (10). CS—B.Phillips (6). S—Arroyo. SF—Ankiel, Thurston.

IP H R ER BB SO

St. Louis

C.Carpenter W,6-3 7 5 1 1 1 5

Motte 2-3 1 0 0 1 1

D.Reyes 1-3 0 0 0 0 0

McClellan 1 0 0 0 0 1

Cincinnati

Arroyo L,8-8 5 11 8 5 2 2

Roenicke 2 1 0 0 0 0

Fisher 2 3 2 2 3 0

Arroyo pitched to 3 batters in the 6th. PB—Hanigan. Umpires—Home, Jim Wolf; First, Brian O’Nora; Second, Fieldin Culbreth; Third, Gary Cederstrom. T—2:46. A—24,017 (42,319).