Garcia pitches Cards past Reds

Garcia pitches Cards past Reds ‘ Birds back on track after tough time with Atlanta

MLB.com ST. LOUIS — Before turning their attention to a four-game showdown against the Cubs, the Cardinals found a way to wrap up an uneven homestand on a high note.

With a 3-2 victory that showcased Jaime Garcia at his near best, the Cardinals nabbed a series from the Reds on Wednesday and climbed back into a tie with the Marlins for the National League's second Wild Card spot.

Garcia bookended the Cardinals' 3-3 homestand with a pair of sensational starts. Pulled from his last outing three outs short, the left-hander was given the opportunity to secure his fifth career complete game. That leash ran out after Garcia surrendered hits to Joey Votto and Adam Duvall to open the inning. But closer Seung Hwan Oh took over from there and sealed the win on five pitches.

'He was great,' Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of Garcia.

'He just kind of built off of what we saw last time out. Boy, whatever we have to do to keep him there because that's impressive to watch.'

Garcia's eight-plusinning performance goes down as one of his most dominant this season. He served up a fourth-inning home run to Eugenio Suarez, but finished on 85 pitches (60 strikes).

Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani entered with a 1.35 ERA in four appearances against the Cardinals, but he was stung by home runs from Matt Carpenter and Jhonny Peralta. Carpenter also tripled and scored to help build the team's early advantage.

'I just think I got into some bad counts and made bad pitches when I needed to make a good pitch,' DeSclafani said. 'I felt like I kind of beat myself tonight, obviously not discrediting them at all … but I felt like I didn't execute to the best of my ability at all.'

Both Carpenter and Peralta helped Garcia in the field as well, as the Cardinals' infield had a standout night in a game where Garcia tallied 15 ground-ball outs.

Carpenter, making his fourth start at first base this season, picked several short-hop throws.

Peralta, playing third, and shortstop Greg Garcia each made highlight-worthy plays in the eighth to help Garcia work around a leadoff double.

'When you're a pitcher, you love seeing that and it allows you to go right after hitters,' Garcia said of the defensive help behind him. 'When I'm pitching, my goal is to get quick outs on the ground.'

QUOTABLE 'This is what we know we're capable of. We just have to find a way to let it show up more. We just want to go out and play well and do what we can to get into the postseason.

However that looks, we'll take it.' — Carpenter SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Oh's save was his 10th of the season, making this the ninth time in franchise history that the Cardinals have had a pair of pitchers with double-digit saves. Trevor Rosenthal recorded 14 before the closer's job was handed over to Oh. The last time it happened was in 2008 when Ryan Franklin saved 17 games and Jason Isringhausen saved 12.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton grounded to Peralta at third with one out in the third inning.

Peralta threw to second baseman Kolten Wong for the forceout and Hamilton beat the throw at first.

Cincinnati challenged the ruling that DeSclafani was out at second because the Reds thought Wong's foot never touched the base. After review, it was ruled that the call stands.

WHAT'S NEXT Reds: Cincinnati has an off-day Thursday before starting a three-game set with the Brewers at 8:10 p.m. ET on Friday.

Homer Bailey will take the mound for the Reds in his third start since returning from Tommy John surgery. He holds a 4.80 ERA in 10 career starts at Miller Park.

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez will take the mound when the Cards open a four-game series against the first-place Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field. Martinez allowed a season-high seven runs (six earned) to the Braves during his last start. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.

By Nick Krueger and Jenifer Langosch