Jaime Garcia watches his solo home run leave the park in the third inning. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Jaime Garcia’s home run in the third inning sparked a three-run rally as the defending World Series Champions earned at least a share of the second wild card berth in the National League with a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The Los Angeles Dodgers fought off elimination with a 3-2 win over the Giants. With two games to play, any Cardinals win or Dodgers loss will advance St. Louis into the one-game wild card playoff with Atlanta. The Braves secured the top wild card spot after Washington clinched the NL East.
Brandon Phillips RBI single in the third gave the Reds a 1-0 lead, but Garcia’s homer off Reds starter Bronson Arroyo quickly tied the game. That homer made Garcia a perfect 5 for 5 batting against Arroyo. Garcia later flied out. On the mound, Garcia gave up six hits in his win and is now 20-11 at home.
The Reds, more concerned with health then the number one seed in the National League, pulled Arroyo after 73 pitches in five innings. Allen Craig and Yadier Molina added an RBI in the third, and Daniel Descalso had an RBI triple in the sixth that made it 4-1. Jason Motte worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his 41st save in 48 chances.