Ray Lankford homered twice, helping rookie Britt Reames earn his first major league win, as the Cardinals held off Montreal 7-6. It shouldn’t have been such a close call for Reames, who had the game very much in control. He carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning, before allowing a two-run double to Vladimir Guerrero to cut the Cards’ lead to 6-2. Gene Stechshulte came in and allowed a three run homer to make it 6-5. After Lankford’s second homer gave the Cards a two-run lead, Stechshulte gave up another homer, but Mike Timlin pitched two perfect innings to earn the save. The Cardinals have now won six straight games, and have pushed their lead over the Reds to ten games, matching their biggest lead of the season. The Cards host the Expos again tonight.