The Cardinals, who had won only one game in each of the preceding two weeks, got a jump on this week Monday night.
Having lost nine of their past 10 and 11 of 13, the Cardinals engaged in a back-and-forth with the Miami Marlins, finally prevailing 4-2 in a battle of bullpens before a paid house of 24,281 at Busch Stadium.
After Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright, weakening only in the third, held the Marlins to two runs over six innings, Genesis Cabrera, Giovanny Gallegos and Alex Reyes, who gained his 17th save in 17 tries, shut down the Marlins for an inning each.