Rookies Push the Cardinals a Little Closer

Two rookies helped the St. Louis Cardinals reduce their magic number to four for clinching the National League Central.

Pinch-hitter John Rodriguez’s ninth-inning single against Salomon Torres drove in Skip Schumacher in a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night at St. Louis.

“It’s big,” starter Mark Mulder said. “They’re not just getting called up and sitting there, they’re getting put in situations where they can succeed.”

The Cardinals have two games left on a 10-game homestand, and need two victories and two losses by second-place Houston to clinch at home. They start a four-game series in Chicago on Thursday.

Ty Wigginton and Brad Eldred each had three hits and a run batted in for the Pirates, who have lost 14 of 17. Starter Mark Redman left after five innings after breaking the tip of his left index finger fouling off a bunt. He could sit out the rest of the season.

“If it had to end, I’m glad it ended on a positive note,” said Redman, who is 5-15 with a 4.90 earned-run average. “My pitch was my curveball, and I used it. It opened up a whole new game for me.”

Philadelphia 4, Atlanta 1 -- Eude Brito tossed three-hit ball over six shutout innings at Philadelphia in his third career start, keeping the Phillies in the hunt for the NL wild card.

Pat Burrell had three hits and two RBIs, Jimmy Rollins extended his hitting streak to 18 games and three relievers gave up one run over three innings for the Phillies.

The Phillies moved seven games behind NL East-leading Atlanta with three more games left in the series. Brave third baseman Chipper Jones came out in the sixth because of a strained left quadriceps.

Cincinnati 5, Chicago 2 -- Javier Valentin and Wily Mo Pena homered against Greg Maddux on consecutive pitches to start the fifth inning at Chicago. Pena added a three-run homer in the ninth against Sergio Mitre to finish with four RBIs.

Harang (10-12) became the first Red pitcher to win 10 games, running his record against the Cubs this season to 3-0.