Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds

Lackey on Tuesday allowed one run in seven innings, walked none and struck out seven to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-1 win over Cincinnati.

Already assured of their franchise-record fifth consecutive postseason appearance, the St. Louis Cardinals continue their charge toward a third straight division title when they begin their final homestand of the season Monday with the opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

For Wednesday’s game the Cardinals start Lance Lynn who has allowed 158 hits and 58 earned runs while striking out 155 over 159.1 innings for an 11-10 record and a 3.28 ERA. With Jaime Garcia set to face John Lamb in the pitching matchup, the total is now sitting at 7.5 runs.

St. Louis Cardinals pinch runner Peter Bourjos returns to the dugout after scoring the go-ahead run on a double by Stephen Piscotty in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, September 21, 2015, in St. Louis.

“As big of a mess as you could put yourself in, just keep trying to make pitches, ” Rosenthal said after working around two one-hit singles.

Keyvius Sampson stopped the rally when he hit the first pitch, a one-hopper to Wong, who tagged Duvall and threw out Sampson at first for a double play. The Cardinals broke the tie in the seventh when Pham hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field off Sam LeCure (0-2). The Astros (80-71) lead the Minnesota Twins by three games and the Angels by 3 1-2 for the AL’s second wild-card spot. Disco K’d 10 in his 6 IP, allowed just 4 hits and a single walk, and in the process lowered his season ERA to a nice and tidy 3.67.

Reds manager Bryan Price said his starter is improving each time he takes the mound. With the game tied 1-1 in the seventh, the Cardinals scored the winning run after Cruz singled to center just out of the reach of shortstop Eugenio Suarez.

The Reds had their chances against Lackey, who got three inning-ending double plays.

St. Louis Cardinals’ Kolten Wong watches his sacrifice fly to score…

Steve Cishek pitched the ninth for his first save. But the Reds scored their only run in the first on a long homer by Jay Bruce.

Pham batted.182 during a 13-game call-up from Triple-A Memphis in July but is hitting.318 in 30 games since his second promotion in August. “I’m still working like everyone here to ideal the craft”, he said. Their lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central fell to three games, with the Pirates hosting Milwaukee on Saturday night. The problem is that these singles are rarely coming when they have runners are in scoring position.

He said he’ll text Isringhausen, “and let him know I’m happy to be a part of that club”. Cardinals right fielder Jason Heyward hardly moved as the ball traveled 456 feet, the longest for a left handed hitter in the history of Busch Stadium.