IN WHAT IS A TIGHT RACE THAT HAS BECOME A LITTLE MORE INTENSE THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS FINISHED OFF A THREE GAME SWEEP OF THE CINCINNATI REDS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WITH A 6-1 WIN.
THE CARDINALS ONCE AGAIN USED A BIG INNING TO UNDO THE REDS. THIS TIME SCORING FOUR RUNS IN THE FIFTH INNING TO BREAK OPEN A SCORELESS TIE.
THE RED BIRDS ADDED TWO MORE IN THE SEVENTH BEFORE THE REDS COULD MUSTER ANY RESPONSE. THE REDS LONE RUN CAME IN THE EIGHTH TO BUST UP THE SHUT OUT.
COLBY RASMUS GAVE THE CARDINALS ALL THE OFFENSE THEY WOULD NEED WHEN HE HIT HIS FIRST CAREER GRAND SLAM IN THE FIFTH INNING OFF REDS STARTER BRONSON ARROYO.
ADAM WAINWRIGHT IMPROVED TO 17-6 ON THE SEASON AND 9-0 IN DAY GAMES AS HE WENT SEVEN INNINGS ALLOWING JUST TWO HITS STRIKING OUT FOUR AND WALKING NONE. WAINWRIGHT ALLOWED ONLY FOUR BASE RUNNERS, TWO OF WHICH REACHED ON ERRORS.
THE REDS HADN'T LOST THREE GAMES IN A ROW SINCE THE ALL STAR BREAK AND HAD NOT BEEN SWEPT AT HOME ALL SEASON.
THE CARDINALS HAD NOT SWEPT THE REDS SINCE 2005, BUT USED THE THREE GAME SWEEP TO PUSH THEMSELVES INTO FIRST PLACE IN THE N-L CENTRAL BY ONE GAME.
THE TWO TEAMS WILL MEET FOR ONE MORE THREE GAME SERIES THE FIRST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER IN ST. LOUIS.
THE CARDINALS TAKE TODAY OFF BEFORE STARTING A TEN DAY, EIGHT GAME HOME STAND AGAINST THE CHICAGO CUBS.
