The Cardinals remain two games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, but failed to solidify their first place standing by committing three errors and losing 6-4 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday night.
Norichika Aoki scored three times and doubled home a run, and Jim Henderson got Matt Adams, representing the go-ahead run, to strike out to end the game. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina misplayed a throw to the plate for another error in a two-run seventh that put Milwaukee up by a three-run cushion. St. Louis also committed two errors in the Brewers’ two-run second. Three of the Brewers’ six runs were unearned.
The Cardinals, who clinched a playoff spot on Saturday, play Washington for three games at Busch Stadium starting Monday night. The Cardinals are 1.5 games behind Atlanta for the best record in the National League, which would secure home field advantage for the NL playoffs.
Cincinnati plays the Mets for three games and Pittsburgh faces the Cubs for three games. The final weekend has Chicago playing at Busch Stadium, while Cincinnati and Pittsburgh finish the season in a three game series.