ST. LOUIS -- With an inspired start by Carlos Martinez and a flood of production against the Pirates' bullpen, the Cardinals asserted their place in the National League Wild Card race with a 7-0 victory at Busch Stadium on Friday night. The win kept pressure on the Giants, whose lead for the second Wild Card spot will be erased if they can't match St. Louis with a win of their own later in the evening.
With two games remaining in the regular season, the Cardinals trail the Mets by two games in the Wild Card standings.