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CHICAGO -- The St. Louis Cardinals are further down than usual in the NL Central standings. Still, they may see the major league-leading Chicago Cubs in October, and theyre coming out of a four-game series at Wrigley Field with some extra confidence.Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer, Brandon Moss followed with a solo shot one out later and the Cardinals used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Cubs 6-4 on Sunday night.Piscotty hit his 17th homer off setup man Hector Rondon (2-3), who entered with a 3-1 lead in his first appearance since Aug. 2 because of a triceps injury. After pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia singled, Piscotty lofted a shot to deep left-center field that put the Cardinals ahead 4-3 in front of 41,019 silenced fans.Moss added his 21st homer, then Randal Grichuk doubled in a run off Travis Wood.Any time youre playing a good team like that late in the game, its just more dramatic, Piscotty said. A great way to bounce back.We kind of know what our role is going forward, he added. Were fighting for that wild-card spot. Hopefully, this gives us some momentum.The Cardinals split a four-game series with Chicago, which dropped its second straight following an 11-game winning streak. St. Louis trails Chicago by 12 games in the division but also has a half-game lead on Miami for the second wild-card spot, keeping the Cards in line for a sixth straight playoff appearance.Weve been down quite a few times early, and guys just keep playing the game and thats something Im extremely proud about this club, manager Mike Matheny said.Cubs starter John Lackey allowed only one unearned run and four hits before leaving with two outs in the seventh with muscle stiffness. Chicago doesnt consider the injury serious.Believe me, Ive been through a lot worse, the 37-year-old Lackey said. I dont know, maybe an (its an) old thing.Rondon said he felt really good. He just didnt have his normal command.I know I missed the location and they got me, he said.Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with a solo homer and three RBI, and Ben Zobrist knocked in a run with a sac fly.Lackey was sailing along and struck out five in his fourth straight solid start. But the right-hander grimaced in pain after throwing a pitch to Grichuk, walked off the field and was replaced by Justin Grimm. The reliever then struck out Grichuk.Were in a fortunate situation with the kind of (division) lead we have, Lackey said. We kind of have the leeway to do some things. Were just checking games off the schedule.Matt Bowman (2-4) got three outs in the seventh -- and got out of a bases-load jam -- in relief of Mike Leake for the win. Leake allowed three runs on six hits in six innings and retired 16 in a row over one stretch despite entering with a 9.00 ERA in his previous four starts.Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh got the final five outs, including three strikeouts in the ninth, for his 11th save in 12 chances.Leake settled into a pitchers duel with Lackey with a little help from his defense.St. Louis third baseman Jhonny Peralta made a diving stop, rolled and threw to first in one motion on Addison Russells sharp grounder in the fourth.Kris Bryant ended Leakes run with a triple to right-center with one out in the sixth. He scored on Rizzos second RBI single to make it 3-1.After the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead in the eighth, Rizzo hit his 25th homer in the bottom half.LETS PLAY TWOCubs manager Joe Maddon says hed have no problem with MLB shortening the season by adding more doubleheaders, but not drawn-out day-night twinbills. Maddon would be for second games starting 30 minutes after the end of the first, and for teams adding two players to their rosters.I think the fans would dig it, too, said Maddon, while noting he understands the economics of day-night doubleheaders with separate admissions. If you have to put a premium on the price tag, I dont know.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is expected to be re-examined by the teams hand specialist on Monday. ... St. Louis LHP Kevin Siegrist left after striking out Zobrist in the eight with an apparent injury and was replaced by Oh. Kevins had a lot of work and that was precautionary more than anything else, Matheny said.Cubs: Rondon said before the game he was 100 percent ready, but allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning.UP NEXTCardinals: Following a day off Monday, LHP Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93) opens a two-game set in Houston against LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56). St. Louis also has Thursday off, but Matheny plans no changes to his strained rotation.Cubs: Chicago also has Monday off, then hosts Milwaukee in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday. RHP Trevor Cahill (1-3, 3.07) is expected to come off the DL (right knee tendinitis) and start in the opener against Brewers RHP Matt Garza (4-4, 4.83). Chicagos Jason Hammel (12-5, 2.90) is 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA since the All-Star break and will take the mound in the nightcap against RHP Chase Anderson (7-10, 4.93).Frank Robinson Jersey . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Victor Robles Jersey . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. https://www.cheapnationals.com/ .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Patrick Corbin Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Nationals Jerseys 2020 . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators.ST. LOUIS -- Randal Grichuk showed off his impressive ability at a key moment for the St. Louis Cardinals.Grichuk made two big plays and Adam Wainwright pitched eight strong innings to help the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Saturday.Stephen Piscotty also drove in two runs as St. Louis won for the second straight night to move back into position for the second NL wild card, a half-game ahead of the New York Mets.The talent-wise weve seen, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of Grichuk. Just being able to consistently put it together has been another challenge. Hes making huge strides in that direction.Grichuk made a perfect throw to the plate to cut down Jake Elmore trying to score from second in the eighth. Then he doubled in the bottom half, helping clear the way for a five-run rally. Matt Adams drove in the tying run with a grounder to second and Grichuk scored on Kolten Wongs single, giving St. Louis a 2-1 lead.What a great throw from the outfield and timely, Matheny said. We needed that play to happen right there. All the way around hes doing everything we could ask.Wong said Grichuks throw was the catalyst for the comeback.Defense has kind of been the thing this past couple weeks sparking our offense and sparking us to get these wins, Wong said. That play Randal made was awesome. We needed that.Wainwright (11-8) struck out seven and allowed six hits in his most impressive outing since he shut out San Diego on July 21. He was helped by double plays in the second and seventh and Grichuks throw in the eighth.It kind of had that feel in the air, and after I got that last out, Jhonny Peralta came up to me and he said were going to pick you up right here and then he went out and got a knock, and Grichuk got the double obviously, Wainwright said. They did a great job right there against a tough pitcher throwing very hard. Ill take it for sure.It was Wainwrights second straight win.It was nice to see him get rewarded for getting through a tough eighth, Matheny said. With his back against the wall is typically when he is at his best.Keon Broxtons 429-foot homer in the fifth gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead. The Brewers have homered in eight straight games.Brewers starter Chase Anderson allowed three hits annd walked two in 5 2/3 innings.dddddddddddd. He was coming off five shutout innings against Pittsburgh last Sunday.Carlos Torres followed Anderson with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, but Corey Knebel (1-3) and Jhan Marinez faltered in the eighth. After Wongs single, Piscotty doubled home two more runs and Yadier Molina added an RBI single.Knebel has struggled recently, mainly against St. Louis.Its been with the Cardinals hitters certainly, but it comes down to making pitches, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. The ball to Grichuk got the heart of the plate.EARLY EXITBrewers first baseman Hernan Perez was ejected by home plate umpire Carlos Torres after taking a called strike three to end the top of the eighth, stranding the bases loaded. Perez tossed his helmet and bat and voiced his displeasure with the call. After the ejection, he ran to the plate and made a kicking motion near the batters box indicating where he thought the pitch was.I havent seen it, Counsell said. Hernan doesnt argue very often. Im guessing it was outside.WEB GEMSWong, playing second for the Cardinals, made a whirling throw to start a 4-6-3 double play in the second inning and he made a diving play to throw out Jonathan Villar to end the third.Wong was amazing tonight, both sides of the plate, getting on base, Wainwright said. His defense the last week or so has been amazing to me. Hes just playing Gold Glove defense out there.TRAINING ROOMCardinals: RHP Trevor Rosenthal (right shoulder inflammation) threw live batting practice. ... RHP Michael Wacha (right shoulder inflammation) is expected to throw live batting practice Monday. ... SS Aledmys Diaz (right thumb fracture) went 0 for 5 in Double-A Springfields season-ending loss to NW Arkansas.UP NEXTBrewers: RHP Zach Davies (10-7, 4.01 ERA) gets the ball on Sunday. He has made a team-high 14 quality starts. He is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA in two starts against St. Louis this season.Cardinals: RHP Luke Weaver (1-2, 3.96 ERA) pitches for St. Louis on Sunday. He has 22 strikeouts in his last three starts.---This version deleted incorrect reference to Chase Andersons record. ' ' '