PITTSBURGH (AP) — Matt Carpenter raced home to break a scoreless tie in the ninth inning when two Pittsburgh Pirates outfielders mishandled Jon Jay’s single, and Mark Reynolds followed with a two-run homer to lift the banged-up St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-0 win on Monday night.

The Cardinals reduced their magic number to clinch a third straight NL Central title to two after getting to Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon (3-2). St. Louis can wrap up the division with a victory at Pittsburgh Tuesday night.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cardinals outfielder Stephen Piscotty was carted off the field following a violent collision with teammate Peter Bourjos. The team said Piscotty was taken to the hospital with a head contusion, and all tests conducted were negative. He will be held overnight for observation.

Carpenter singled with one out and scored all the way from first when Pittsburgh right fielder Gregory Polanco overran Jay’s hit and center fielder Andrew McCutchen couldn’t pick the ball up cleanly.

Reynolds then drilled his 12th homer of the year to give closer Trevor Rosenthal some cushion for his 48th save. Jonathan Broxton (4-5) earned the win.

Pittsburgh, already assured of a wild-card berth, left 16 runners on base while falling four games behind the Cardinals with five to go.

Pittsburgh has been relentlessly chasing frontrunning St. Louis for five months. Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Pirates finally had their chance to catch the Cardinals if they could earn a three-game sweep at home in a matchup of the teams with the two best records in the majors.

Instead, St. Louis did what it has done all year, relying on its pitching and just enough hitting to keep Pittsburgh at bay.

The Cardinals survived on a night they issued 10 walks. Pittsburgh put runners on base in every inning except the first, but none could find their way home on a night the Pirates went 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 3 in the ninth with the tying run at the plate.

St. Louis starter Lance Lynn labored his way through five scoreless innings, most of them out of the stretch while the Pirates kept wasting opportunities to take control. Starling Marte was nailed at the plate to end the second while trying to score on a shallow fly to center by Jordy Mercer as Jason Heyward’s throw beat the speedy Marte by three steps.

Marte then struck out with the bases loaded to end the third. Polanco led off the fifth with a double only to run into an out at third on a chopper to shortstop by Josh Harrison. Lynn needed 96 pitches to retire 15 batters, walking four with six strikeouts.

Pittsburgh starter J.A. Happ, a revelation since being acquired at the non-waiver trade deadline from Seattle, was decidedly more efficient. The lefthander allowed only Kolten Wong’s single leading off the third.

Otherwise, he was dominant, striking out four and needing only 56 pitches to get through six shutout innings to lower his ERA to 2.04 in 10 starts with the Pirates. Happ was lifted for pinch-hitter Michael Morse with two outs and two on in the sixth. Morse walked to load the bases, but St. Louis reliever Seth Maness got Polanco to hit a routine fly to right to end the threat.

FRIGHTENING MOMENT

In a frightening scene during the seventh, Piscotty lay motionless on the grass in left-center field for several minutes after his collision with Bourjos. Piscotty, playing left, and Bourjos, playing center, were tracking Josh Harrison’s drive to the gap when Bourjos’ knee slammed into the head of the diving Piscotty. Bourjos made the catch while Piscotty crumpled to the turf.

Piscotty was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field. The rookie did manage a wave with his left hand before disappearing into a tunnel underneath the stadium, eliciting a big cheer from the Pittsburgh crowd.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina’s injured left thumb will keep him out for the rest of the regular season. Molina, who suffered a slight ligament tear in the thumb on Sept. 20, met with a hand specialist on Monday and will be given at least a week off before being re-evaluated. … RHP Adam Wainwright, who tore his left Achilles tendon in April, could be ready to work out of the bullpen as early as Wednesday.

UP NEXT

The series continues on Tuesday when Michael Wacha (17-6, 3.15) faces Pittsburgh’s Charlie Morton (9-8, 4.54). Wacha is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in six games against the Pirates. Morton is 2-11 in his career against the Cardinals, his last victory coming on April 4, 2011.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jason Rogers feels right at home in the spoiler role.

The Milwaukee rookie hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth inning off St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal to lift the Brewers to an 8-4 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday.

The Cardinals’ NL Central lead is three games over Pittsburgh. The Cardinals’ magic number for clinching the crown was cut to four after the Pirates lost to Chicago later Sunday.

St. Louis has lost two of three heading into a three-game showdown in Pittsburgh starting Monday.

“It’s always good to beat guys at the end and maybe try and ruin their season,” Rogers said. “It was special, a grand slam off a tough righty, one of the best in the game.”

Khris Davis homered twice and drove in four runs for the Brewers, who scored seven runs in the ninth.

“This was a great come-from-behind win,” Davis said. “We were all having fun out there. It was just a great feeling.”

All four Milwaukee batters reached safely against Rosenthal (2-4), who had converted 47 of 49 save opportunities. His last blown save came July 12 at Pittsburgh.

“I can’t explain how it happened,” Rosenthal said. “Everything felt fine. I tried to get in a groove and couldn’t quite get there. Just one of those days.”

Rogers, who is 13 of 48 as a pinch hitter, ripped his second pinch-hit homer of the season and first grand slam of his career.

Davis added a three-run homer later in the ninth off Seth Maness for an 8-3 lead.

“In the ninth, we just tried to give it our best chance with good at-bats,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “Everything fell into place. Got some good pinch-hit efforts.”

David Goforth (1-0) picked up the win with one inning of relief.

Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 37th save in 39 chances. He retired Brandon Moss with two on to end the game.

Matt Carpenter and Stephen Piscotty hit back-to-back homers in the seventh to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.

Hernan Perez then started the Milwaukee ninth with a single. Martin Maldonado was hit by a pitch and Jonathan Lucroy walked to load the bases for Rogers.

St. Louis starter John Lackey allowed one run on five hits over seven innings for his 26th quality start in 32 outings this season.

“It’s one game, we can’t get too crazy about it,” Lackey said. “We’ve just got to play better on the road.”

Carpenter slammed a one-out home run off Jeremy Jeffress to break a 1-all tie. Piscotty followed with his seventh homer of the season.

Despite the loss, the St. Louis players realize they are still in the driver’s seat in the division race.

“Every loss has the same feeling, we’re not going to dwell on it,” Carpenter said. “We’ve got a chance to go out and win the division in the next few days. That’s all we can ask for.”

The Cardinals hit back-to-back homers for the third time this season.

Davis, who has a team-high 26 homers, gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead with a home run off Lackey in the second. Davis has three homers in 17 career at-bats against Lackey.

The Cardinals tied the game in the fourth on singles by Matt Adams and Kolten Wong and an RBI groundout by Tony Cruz.

CROWD CONTROL

The Cardinals recorded their 37th sellout of the season and finished with 3,520,889 in attendance, an average of 43,468 per game. It is the second-highest attendance in the majors behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: INF Carpenter returned to the lineup after leaving Saturday’s 5-1 win with tightness in his left hip.

UP NEXT

Brewers; RHP Jorge Lopez will make his major league debut on Tuesday in the first of a three-game series in San Diego. He will be opposed by RHP Tyson Ross (10-11, 3.17).

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (12-10, 3.16) faces LHP J.A. Happ (10-8, 3.88) on Monday in the first of a crucial three-game series in Pittsburgh.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jaime Garcia can relate to what Carlos Martinez is going through.

The Cardinals found out Saturday that Martinez is done for the year with a right shoulder strain, something the oft-injured Garcia didn’t learn until after throwing eight dominant innings in a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that kept St. Louis’ NL Central lead at three games.

“I told him, `You know, stuff happens,” Garcia said. “He threw a lot of innings for the first time in his career, and he had a tremendous season, and now he’s got to figure out what the best plan is.”

Garcia (10-5) has revived his career after undergoing thoracic outlet surgery in 2014 for nerve compression that caused numbness and tingling and cost him big chunks of the previous three seasons.

“I think whenever we’re done with this year, I’ll have time to sit back and think about everything that’s happened,” Garcia said. “For right now, I was preparing for this start, and now I’ve got to get ready for my next start.”

The Cardinals shaved their magic number to five for clinching the division after second-place Pittsburgh beat the Cubs 4-0 earlier in the day.

Matt Holliday had a pair of RBI doubles, and Kolten Wong’s two-run single capped a four-run first against rookie Tyler Wagner (0-1).

“Just a real nice stroke and the ball jumping off his bat,” manager Mike Matheny said of Holliday. “That’s the guy we want him to be.”

Matt Carpenter was removed after five innings with left hip tightness for precautionary reasons, but said after the game he intended to play Sunday in the home finale.

Matheny said Carpenter had to be persuaded to come out.

“By the time I came up the steps into the clubhouse he was already lobbying that he was fine and wants to play,” Matheny said.

Garcia (10-5) allowed a run on seven hits, retiring 10 in a row at one point. The lefty struck out eight with no walks and reached double figures in victories for the first time since 2011.

Garcia is 7-1 since Aug. 1, and the Cardinals are 10-1 in his last 11 starts.

The Cardinals are 98-57 overall and 55-25 at Busch Stadium, both major league bests, heading into the home regular-season finale on Sunday. It’s the most victories in Matheny’s four seasons, topping 97 wins in 2013.

Milwaukee had the bullpen busy in the first when St. Louis scored four runs on five hits with two walks against Wagner, making his second career start and first since May 31.

“Early in the game he didn’t get a second pitch going at all because he was behind in the counts,” manager Craig Counsell said. “So they just kind of waited him out, waited for a sinker they could hit.”

NICE GLOVE

Wong ranged far to his left at 2B to rob Jean Segura of a hit in the third.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: C Jonathan Lucroy got a spot start at 1B and had two hits and an RBI. Counsell said Adam Lind will get the bulk of the playing time there, and that Lucroy, coming off a concussion, won’t catch again this season. Lucroy and Ryan Braun (lower back) both were in the Brewers lineup for the first time since Sept. 8.

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina, sidelined since Sunday by a slight ligament tear in his left thumb, will be examined Monday. The team has been hopeful he’ll return before the end of the season.

UP NEXT

John Lackey (13-9, 2.74) can become the fourth Cardinals pitcher to win 10 games at home in a season and he’s 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in four starts against Milwaukee. Tyler Cravy (0-8, 6.21) starts for the Brewers.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Initial tests were positive on Carlos Martinez’ problematic shoulder. So maybe at least the St. Louis Cardinals had something to smile about.

After lasting just seven pitches in a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night, the 24-year-old right-hander said there wasn’t a lot of pain but added he had some weakness. The Cardinals have scheduled an MRI for Saturday.

“I’m not too concerned about it,” Martinez said through an interpreter. “But I’m going to wait till tomorrow and see what happens.”

Martinez said he first experienced stiffness against the Cubs his last start and that the shoulder was “a little tight” for his bullpen session, but “thought he could push through it.”

“But after the first pitch I knew something was bothering me a little bit,” he added.

Manager Mike Matheny was somewhat aware of the pitcher’s issues but couldn’t tell during pregame warmups “because a lot of times he just kind of goes nice and easy.”

“I know the fact they came back and ran him through all the tests and weren’t overly concerned with what they saw, that’s a good thing,” the manager added.

Khris Davis homered off Trevor Rosenthal leading off the ninth inning for Milwaukee, atoning for a base-running gaffe earlier. Davis thought there were two outs instead of one when he kept running on a routine fly ball and was easily doubled off second in the fourth.

“I completely blanked out,” Davis said. “I can’t afford to make those mistakes.”

Coming through in the ninth said, made it that much sweeter.

“Yeah, you can write that,” Davis said.

The loss cut the Cardinals’ NL Central lead to three games over Pittsburgh with eight games remaining.

Rosenthal (2-3) was St. Louis’ eighth reliever and Davis’ 24th homer was just the second allowed by the St. Louis closer; the other was by Pittsburgh’s Jung Ho Kang on May 3 in St. Louis.

Davis was 1 for 5 with four strikeouts against Rosenthal before lining a 1-1 fastball into the right-field bullpen.

“I don’t know the numbers, but I know he’s got great stuff,” Davis said. “I was just looking to get on base.”

Will Smith (7-2) got the Brewers out of danger in the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez earned his 36th save in 38 chances.

Milwaukee has lost 12 of 17 against the Cardinals this season and 53 of the last 77 meetings.

Martinez flinched after a called first strike to Adam Lind, then left the field with his glove covering his face and in apparent pain. Martinez is among the NL leaders in wins (14) and ERA (3.01).

Lefty Tyler Lyons replaced Martinez and had five strikeouts in a row in the second and third.

“You just get thrown right in the fire,” Lyons said. “You’ve got to make pitches off the bat.”

Jean Segura scored from second to tie it at 3 in the seventh when rookie second baseman Greg Garcia couldn’t get the ball out of his glove on a two-out grounder by pinch-hitter Domingo Santana.

“That play hurts,” Garcia said. “It’s a big game.”

Jonathan Lucroy had a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth and Jordan Schafer doubled twice. Starter Ariel Pena allowed three runs in five innings.

The Cardinals got RBI from Matt Carpenter, Stephen Piscotty and Tony Cruz.

FULL HOUSE

The attendance of 45,057 was the Cardinals’ 35th sellout with two dates remaining.

COOLING OFF PERIOD

Cardinals rookie Tommy Pham, who entered with a major league-best .412 average including three homers since Sept. 15, struck out in all four at-bats. … Pinch-runner Peter Bourjos was caught stealing for eighth time in 13 attempts in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: Ryan Braun (lower back) missed his sixth consecutive start but lined out as a pinch hitter to end the eighth. … Lucroy, coming off a concussion, has a pinch-hit single the last two games and finished at first base.

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright is scheduled for a second simulated game Saturday. The two-time 20-game winner is attempting to come back just five months after tearing his left Achilles.

UP NEXT

Lefty Jaime Garcia (9-5, 2.45) is 6-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 10 starts since Aug. 1 and the Cardinals are 9-1. Tyler Wagner (0-0, 12.27) makes his second career start for the Brewers.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jhonny Peralta and Stephen Piscotty hit back-to-back homers and combined for seven RBI to power the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.

St. Louis has won five straight and holds a four-game lead over Pittsburgh for the NL Central lead.

The Cardinals trailed 3-0 in the fourth when Peralta hit a three-run homer into the center field bleachers, and Piscotty followed two pitches later with a blast into the left-center seats. The homer by Peralta, St. Louis’ cleanup hitter, was his first since Aug. 1.

Piscotty added a two-run, two-out single off Taylor Jungmann (9-7) in the fifth and a run-scoring single in the seventh.

St. Louis, a major league-best 97-56, went 41 games over .500 for the first time.

Michael Wacha (17-6) worked five innings and allowed three runs, all in a 28-pitch first inning when he gave up three hits and walked two. Rookie Jason Rogers singled in Milwaukee’s first run, and Hernan Perez drove in two with an opposite-field double grounded just fair down the right field line.

Five Cardinals relievers limited the Brewers to three singles over the final four innings.

In his first career start, Brewers SS Yadiel Rivera grounded a single to left on the 11th pitch he saw in the first inning for his first career hit.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: C Jonathan Lucroy (concussion), out of the lineup since Sept. 8, singled in an eighth-inning pinch-hit appearance and stayed in to play first base. Lucroy is not expected to catch again this year, manager Craig Counsell said.

Cardinals: LF Matt Holliday (quad) is being eased into his return from an eight-week stint on the disabled list. After going 1 for 3 Wednesday in his first start since July 29, Holliday was not in the lineup.

UP NEXT

Brewers: Rookie Ariel Pena (2-0, 3.50) has pitched five innings and allowed no more than two runs in each of his first three starts, including a no-decision against the Cardinals Sept. 15.

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (14-7, 3.01) will look to continue his dominant pitching against the Brewers. Martinez has allowed one run in 15 innings against Milwaukee, striking out 17 and giving up six hits.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Carpenter hit a pair of two-run homers, Lance Lynn pitched six scoreless innings and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Cincinnati Reds 10-2 Wednesday night.

The win was the fourth straight for the NL Central leaders and it improved their major league-best record to 96-56. Randal Grichuk and Peter Bourjos also homered as the Cardinals hit four for the first time this season.

Matt Holliday returned to the St. Louis lineup for the first time since July 29 and contributed an RBI double.

Both of Carpenter’s homers came off Brandon Finnegan (4-1), who allowed six runs in five innings.

Lynn (12-10) gave up three singles, walked none and allowed only one runner to reach second before leaving with the Cardinals ahead 9-0.

St. Louis catcher Travis Tartamella singled in his first major league at-bat in the eighth.

Cincinnati slugger Joey Votto hit his 29th homer in the seventh and singled while extending his streak of reaching base safely to 40 games, one shy of his career best.

WAINWRIGHT GETS CLOSER

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright moved a step closer to returning when he faced hitters for the first time since having left Achilles surgery April 30. The operation was expected to end his season, but Wainwright now hopes to pitch out of the bullpen next week. After throwing 25 pitches in simulated-game conditions to Cardinals hitters, Wainwright said he felt strong but lacked sharpness. “I like being out there again,” he said. “I wanted to be better than that. The second time, it’s got to improve.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: RHP Rafael Iglesias, removed from the rotation last week because of shoulder fatigue, has not been shut down for the season. Manager Bryan Price said Iglesias’ shoulder is stronger and he could pitch before the season ends.

Cardinals: Holliday (quad), Grichuk (elbow) and 1B Matt Adams (quad) have all returned to the lineup after stints on the disabled list, but none of them have been cleared to start on consecutive days. That could change soon, manager Mike Matheny said.

UP NEXT

Reds: Josh Smith (0-2, 7.71 ERA) will oppose fellow rookie Steven Matz in the opener of a four-game home series against the NL East-leading New York Mets. Matz won his major league debut against Smith and the Reds 7-2 in June.

Cardinals: Michael Wacha (16-6, 3.08) will make his first start this season against Milwaukee in the opener of St. Louis’ final home series. Wacha has given up 12 earned runs in 15 innings over his past three starts.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — John Lackey pitched seven strong innings, rookie Tommy Pham continued his productive hitting and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 Tuesday night.

Lackey (13-9) allowed only a first-inning homer by Jay Bruce during his 16th quality start in 16 outings at Busch Stadium. The veteran right-hander struck out seven, walked none and lowered his home ERA to 1.97.

St. Louis improved to a major league-best 95-56 with its second straight low-scoring victory over Cincinnati. Steve Cishek worked the ninth to earn his first save for St. Louis.

Pham hit a sacrifice fly to deep center in the seventh that scored Tony Cruz and broke a 1-all tie. Pham drove in the Cardinals’ first run with a third-inning double that brought in Matt Carpenter, who doubled with one out. Since moving into the lineup eight games ago, Pham has nine RBI, eight extra-base hits and is batting .407.

Lackey induced three ground-ball double plays in the first five innings that thwarted rallies and brought his National League-leading total to 28.

Bruce’s 456-foot homer off a 93 mph fastball from Lackey was the longest by a left-handed hitter at 10-year-old Busch Stadium.

Kolten Wong drove in the Cardinals’ third run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Joey Votto walked in the top of the eighth to reach base for the 39th consecutive game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: C Brayan Pena started for the first time since injuring his right hamstring Sept. 8. He singled twice in three at-bats before being lifted for a pinch runner.

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina said he plans to return before the end of the regular season despite a thumb injury. Molina was relieved to hear he would not need surgery after sustaining a slight tear in his left thumb ligament Sunday. “Five, seven, 10 days, whatever it is, but no surgery,” he said. “That was good news.”

UP NEXT

Reds: Rookie LHP Brandon Finnegan, acquired from Kansas City in the Johnny Cueto trade, will make his second career start in the finale of the three-game series. Finnegan allowed three hits and one run in five innings and picked up a win at Milwaukee last week.

Cardinals: Lance Lynn will try to get on the right track after lasting 3 1/3 innings at Wrigley Field last week. Lynn (11-10, 3.28) has a 5.11 ERA over his past five starts.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cardinals All-Star catcher Yadier Molina said he plans to return before the end of the regular season despite a thumb injury.

Molina sustained a slight tear of his left thumb ligament Sunday while tagging out Cubs’ player Anthony Rizzo in a key play at the plate in the Cardinals’ 4-3 win. Rizzo was thrown out by right fielder Jason Heyward on a no-out, bases-loaded fly for a double play in the eighth inning.

On Tuesday, Molina said he’ll wait five or six days before trying to catch again.

Last year, Molina tore a ligament in his right thumb when sliding and the surgery sidelined him more than seven weeks. When he had his left thumb examined Monday, he said he was relieved the injury wasn’t as severe.

“I was expecting worse,” Molina said. “Five, seven, 10 days, whatever it is, but no surgery. That was good news.”

Molina didn’t have his thumb protected Tuesday, and it appeared slightly swollen. He’s said he’s putting ice on it and waiting for it to heal.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rookie Stephen Piscotty doubled in the go-ahead run in a two-run eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals turned it on late for a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

Rookie Tommy Pham tripled off J.J. Hoover (8-2) to open the eighth and Jhonny Peralta’s one-out single tied it ahead of Piscotty’s drive off the wall in left-center.

Johnathon Broxton (3-5) allowed one hit the eighth and Trevor Rosenthal earned his 47th save in 49 chances to match the franchise record.

The Cardinals had a four-game NL Central lead over Pittsburgh before the opener of their final home stand. They’re a major league-best 51-24 at home and have the best overall record, too, at 94-56.

Reds rookie starter John Lamb held St. Louis scoreless for the second time this month, striking out six and allowing five hits in six-plus innings. Brandon Phillips had three hits including a first-inning RBI single.

Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia allowed a run on five hits in seven innings. He lacked control in the first but survived with minimal damage after throwing two wild pitches, walking two and allowing two hits, then retired the side in order the next four innings — once with the help of a double play.

WALKING MAN

Joey Votto drew his 136th walk, in the sixth, breaking his own franchise record set in 2013. Votto also singled in the first and is 5 for 6 against Garcia with a homer, double and three walks.

WEAK ARM FACTOR

Randal Grichuk’s arm was exposed in the sixth when Eugenio Suarez took second on a routine single but was tagged out when he over-slid the bag. Todd Frazier attempted to exploit Grichuk when he tagged on a routine fly out in the seventh but the Cardinals had moved Piscotty to left and Frazier was out at second for the third out.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: Billy Hamilton (shoulder) missed his sixth straight start.

Cardinals: Matt Holliday (quadriceps) has played in just 11 games since June 9 and has pinch hit twice since being activated from the DL on Sept. 15. He’s not ready to play outfield.

UP NEXT

John Lackey (12-9, 2.79) has a 2.23 ERA since June 15, fifth-best in the majors, but he’s 0-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts against Cincinnati. Rookie Keyvius Sampson (2-5, 7.09) has qualified for the decision just four times in his first nine career starts.

— Associated Press —

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell’s fly ball in the eighth inning Sunday might be the most important play in baseball so far this year.

St. Louis star catcher Yadier Molina suffered a sprained left thumb on the play as the Cubs ran themselves out of late scoring chances and the Cardinals ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak and avoided a sweep with a 4-3 win Sunday.

The Cardinals moved six games ahead of Chicago in the NL Central. The Pirates beat the Dodgers on Sunday to remain four games behind St. Louis.

Molina was injured tagging out Anthony Rizzo on Russell’s sacrifice-fly attempt in the eighth. Right fielder Jason Heyward had the assist, throwing out Rizzo on the no-out, bases-loaded fly for a double play.

Molina said he’ll have an MRI on the thumb Monday.

“I’m concerned,” manager Mike Matheny said. “We’re anxious to hear what the doctor is going to report.”

Matheny went out to talk to Molina after the play, but Molina remained in the game for the remainder of the half inning before being replaced for pinch-hitter Matt Adams the next inning.

“It hurts (gripping the bat) a little bit,” Molina said. “I just couldn’t grip it.”

The Cubs ran into another out in the ninth. Starlin Castro led off with a single, but pinch-runner Quintin Berry was thrown out trying to steal second by Molina’s replacement, Tony Cruz.

Trevor Rosenthal then struck out Jorge Soler and got Kyle Schwarber to ground out for his 46th save in 48 chances.

Despite falling short in this one, the Cubs won four of their final six regular-season games against the Cardinals.

“I could not be more proud of our guys,” manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s obvious we’re playing on the same level as they are right now.”

St. Louis became the first team to clinch a postseason berth — its fifth straight — on Saturday when San Francisco lost.

The Cubs are comfortably ahead of the Giants for the final wild-card spot. And if they advance in the postseason, there’s a good chance they’ll face the Cardinals at some point.

“Obviously, the ultimate goal is through them,” Cubs starter Jon Lester said.

Carlos Martinez (14-7) pitched four-hit ball into the seventh and allowed two runs. Rookies Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty homered.

In the eighth, the Cubs loaded the bases on a single and two walks, then Cardinals reliever Jonathan Broxton walked in a run. Rosenthal entered and struck out Miguel Montero to end the threat.

Martinez retired 11 straight at one point and finished with six strikeouts. His only trouble came in the third, when he walked two then allowed a two-run single to Rizzo.

Lester (10-11) labored despite entering the game with a string of three solid starts in which he allowed four runs in 21 innings. He allowed four runs in six innings while striking out seven.

Lester was 1 for 2 at the plate. He’s 3 for 11 against St. Louis and 0 for 82 against all other teams.

Pham, the game’s second hitter, launched a drive down the left field line over the bleachers onto the street. It was his fifth homer of the season and fourth in his last six games. One out later, Piscotty lined a two-run shot to left.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong, hit by two pitches Saturday, said he was not injured, but was upset “by the fact that not once, but twice, I got hit.”… OF Randal Grichuk, who was on the DL in August with an elbow injury, “is still limited” in the distance he can throw, according to Matheny.

Cubs: Maddon said reliever Pedro Strop was not available after the righty bailed the Cubs out of a ninth-inning jam Saturday and preserved a 5-4 win.

Maddon also delivered on a promised “day at the beach” to Strop for earning his third save. Before the game, a beach chair — arranged with bottles of beer in an ice bucket, a margarita and other paraphernalia — was set up in front of Strop’s locker.

“I wanted to really make it really emphatic that he was not playing,” Maddon said.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (9-5, 2.52) faces Cincinnati LHP John Lamb as St. Louis opens a three-game series and its final homestand against the Reds. Garcia is 6-1 with a 3.02 ERA since Aug. 1.

Cubs: RHP Jason Hammel (8-6, 3.73) takes the mound against Milwaukee RHP Wily Peralta (5-9, 4.41) as the Cubs continue their 10-game homestand. Although Hammel is 2-1 in his last five starts, he’s allowed 16 runs in 26 innings for a 5.54 ERA during the span.

— Associated Press —