The Cardinals won a much needed game against the Cincinnati Reds as well as winning a huge series. The win allowed the Cardinals (70-57) to climb back to just six games out in the Central and ensure their lead in the second wild card. A good start by Adam Wainwright as well as a great outing from the bullpen, allowed the Cardinals to defeat their rivals in the Central 8-2. 

Happy Holliday:

Again Matt Holliday came through with a huge two RBI single early on which gave the Cardinals a healthy lead. He later went on too hit an easy triple which set up the Allen Craig home run.  In the seventh Holliday got his 32nd double of the season and drove in another run, Holliday is now batting .309 and  he has 89 BI which is now first in the National League above his teammate Carlos Beltran.

Release the Craigken:

Allen Craig who snapped his career best 13 game hit streak last night, avenged himself with a towering no doubt about it two run shot that gave the Cardinals much needed insurance.  Craig also added an insurance run in the seventh driving in Matt Holliday. Allen Craig has  a .318 AVG, 20 homers and 71 RBI in just 85 games, could you imagine his production if he had a full healthy season and an everyday position? Craig is going to be a Cardinal hero for many years to come, he really makes me glad that you know who signed elsewhere.

Bueno Waino:

Adam Wainwright had another excellent start this afternoon despite a shaky sixth inning in which he had to exit after a crucial misplay from Rafael Furcal. Wainwright still managed to allow only two runs, six hits, and struck out two. This was not his best start by any means, but still another sharp one from the resurgent Ace. We need Wainwright to keep this up if we are going to propel into the post season once again.  With this win, Wainwright is now 13-10 with a healthy 3.63 ERA, he also leads the team with his 156 strikeouts.

Underrated:

The trade that sent Zack Cox to Miami for Edward Mujica has been very undervalued and looked over. However since his arrival to the Cardinals, Mujica has become a major weapon out of the bullpen. He has yet to allow a run in 12.1 innings with the Cardinals while proving to be a good sixth/seventh inning man.

Player of the Game:

Matt Holliday for nearly hitting for the cycle, just missing out with the homer and had a four RBI day going 4-5. He is really an MVP candidate and on his way to possibly getting an RBI title.

Conclusion:

This was a much needed win, not only the game but the series.  But it is far from over, the Cardinals now have to face Pittsburgh who could surpass the Cardinals in the wild card if they are able to have a good series. The Cardinals are heating up, with their pitching and offense. However we still need some guys like Beltran and Furcal to heat up again, if this can happen the Cardinals should easily reach the playoffs, if not it could be a long month of September.