Cardinals break losing streak, beating the Reds 3-2

Tonight (9/3/10) the Cardinals were able to snap their five game losing streak, beating the Cincinnati Reds 3-2. Brandon Phillips received a warm welcome from the Busch Stadium crowd. The Reds have now lost five games in a row to the Cardinals, and have not beat the Cards since Phillips made his negative comments. If the Cardinals can miraculously meet the Reds in the playoffs then it seems as though they will have the edge.

Skip Schumaker and Jon Jay each had 1 RBI and 1 run scored; Jay's RBI came off a triple in the first inning. Albert Pujols got the team's third RBI of the night (2nd inning). Schumaker and starting pitcher Jaime Garcia were the only Cardinals with multi-hit nights.  

Garcia picked up win number 13 on the season. He continues to make a strong case for the ROY award. In 6.2 IP he had 6 SO, but also gave up 3 BB and 6 hits, including a HR hit by Paul Janish (3rd inning). Garcia gave up 2 runs, both of them were earned.

Reliever Mitchell Boggs had a solid outing, including a SO, when he finished the 7th inning for Garcia. Set-up man Kyle McClellan faced some tough at-bats, but he manage to get the hold. Closer Ryan Franklin sealed the deal in the 9th, he got 1 SO, and picked up his 23rd save of the season.

The Cardinals have a long way to go if they want to see the playoffs. But winning the series against Cincinnati (or even better, sweeping them) would certainly be a good start. If the Cards do have a solid series against the Reds, then let's hope that this time they are able to carry the momentum over to the next series, unlike last time.