Cardinals first team into Major League Baseball playoffs

In the NL East and NL West, meanwhile, where the Mets and Dodgers have comfortable leads, but lesser records than the Pirates and Cubs, there will be no wild-card gauntlet.

Molina was injured tagging Anthony Rizzo in the eighth. He hit a medium fly ball to Jason Heyward in right field. In the ninth, the Cardinals halted another Cubs rally when pinch-runner Quintin Berry was thrown out trying to steal second base, his first caught-stealing of his major-league career (he had been 25-for-25 prior to Sunday).

Rookies Stephen Piscotty and Tommy Pham each hit home runs in the first inning to push the Cardinals to an early lead they would not relinquish. After winning the first two games, they had Jon Lester going to the mound to complete the task. Against the rest of the league? 2.86. The Rangers finished a 7-3 homestand that included a four-game sweep of the Astros.

Carpenter homered off Zac Rosscup to cut it to 5-3. He left with a stiff right elbow, a move the team called precautionary. Heyward singled and was out at second base as shortstop Jhonny Peralta grounded into a fielder’s choice.

WHITE SOX 4, INDIANS 3 Carlos Rodon allowed one run while pitching into the eighth inning and visiting Chicago defeated sloppy Cleveland.

Even after the loss, the Cardinals still lead the National League Central by 4 1/2 games over the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cubs are lurking just five games back. Give them credit. They are very good, also. He did appear in 136 games during the 2013 season, an exceptional amount for an everyday a catcher, but he missed 52 games previous year.

Aaron Brooks (2-4) took the loss.

The right-hander got hurt running to first base after bunting Friday in an interleague game against the Mets at Citi Field. The lefty is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three outings. Lester connected for single, and Martinez proceeded to issue two of his three walks. On a 1-0 count, Pham sends the two-seamer out over the left wall for a solo home run putting the Cardinals on the board, 1-0.

“How far we’ve come in one season to get to this particular game today”. The Angels and Twins also are ahead of them.

The right-handed Tomlin (6-2) matched his season-high with eight strikeouts before Cody Allen pitched the ninth inning to pick up his 31st save. Cody Allen got his 31st save in 35 chances.

Harper entered the day leading the NL in homers, batting average and runs. He walked three and struck out six.

Veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski singled in the winning run in the ninth inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rizzo has been hit by a pitch an MLB-leading 29 times this season. Baltimore fell 5 1-2 games behind Houston for the second AL wild card.

Mike Morin (3-1) struck out the only two batters he faced for the win. However, in Sunday’s game, he was retired after the sixth inning.

Syndergaard (8-7) gave up five runs in six innings.

Martinez had allowed three or more runs in eight consecutive starts before an outstanding effort Tuesday at Milwaukee.