CINCINNATI _ Amazing what a two-game winning streak will do at this time of year, especially in the bunched-up race for the postseason.
While staying in lockstep behind the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals advanced on the NL wild-card race with an emphatic 9-2 victory Wednesday night against Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park. The engines behind any contending they've done in the past few weeks provided.
Tommy Pham had three hits for the Cardinals. Luke Weaver (7-1) had five strong innings. Dexter Fowler homered for the third time in as many games.
Paul DeJong homered for the second time in as many days.
The win put the Cardinals 2{ behind the Colorado Rockies, who were shutout in San Francisco.
There are 11 games remaining in the season.
The Cardinals felt good enough about their lead Wednesday to unleash the reaches of the bullpen and unload the bench. All of it worked. Sandy Alcantara hit 101 mph with his fastball during his perfect inning. Carson Kelly doubled in his first at-bat, and then he scored the Cardinals' ninth-inning run when Greg Garcia looped a pinch-hit single.
The win sets up a rubber game of sorts for the Cardinals and Reds. For much of the season, the Cardinals have had trouble with the last-place Reds and slipped behind them in the season series. The set is now tied, 9-9, with one more game remaining between the two clubs.
