Matt Carpenter leaped into a high-five with Yadier Molina at home plate

MIAMI (AP) — http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-jonny-venters-jersey , trotted down the dugout steps and skipped from one end of the bench to the other, slapping hands with teammates lined up on both sides of him.It was a routine polished by practice.The NL home run leader hit a tiebreaking homer for the second consecutive night Wednesday, and the St. Louis Cardinals won their fourth series in a row by beating Miami 7-1.Carpenter put St. Louis ahead with a home run leading off the sixth inning, his 31st. His eighth-inning homer Tuesday helped beat Miami 3-2, and he has homered in five of the past six games, to the delight of his teammates.“Obviously they’re fired up and love it, and we’re winning,” Carpenter said. “We’ve played really well the last few series, so there’s a lot of excitement and energy in the clubhouse every day.”Said shortstop Paul DeJong: “If Carp doesn’t hit a home run, I don’t know if we could win.”Carpenter, who has raised his average from .140 on May 15 to .281, has resisted analyzing the remarkable turnaround.“There’s really not a lot of thought Matt Moore Jersey ,” he said. “That’s kind of the beauty of this stretch I’m in. It has been a learning experience for me, because when you’re struggling there’s so much thought. I just go up there, I’m looking for a pitch to hit, and I hit it and jog around the bases.”John Gant (4-4) pitched six innings and allowed one run, which scored in part because of a defensive lapse. He and three relievers combined to retire 21 batters in a row.Molina hit his 15th homer in the first and doubled home two runs in the ninth . The double came after Carpenter was intentionally walked for the 11th time this year.“It’s an option for them,” Cardinals interim manager Mike Shildt said. “We like Matt hitting, and we have no problem with Yadi hitting.”Marcell Ozuna doubled home a run in the sixth and went 6 for 11 in the series against his former team. The Cardinals improved to 13-9 under Shildt.Trevor Richards (3-7) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings for the last-place Marlins, who have lost eight of their past nine games.“We know where we are in the standings,” shortstop Miguel Rojas said. “We need to identify who we want to be, and I think that starts with playing better baseball and trying to finish hard.”WORTHY OF A REPLAYDeJong hit a two-run double and made a leaping catch to rob Magneuris Sierra of a hit.“Honestly it might be one of the best plays I’ve ever made,” DeJong said. “I was pretty excited about that one.”TRAINER’S ROOMCardinals: Pinch runner Harrison Bader was shaken up on a headfirst slide in the eighth inning, but stayed in the game and scored. Afterward he said he was fine.Marlins: Rookie CF Lewis Brinson (right hip) is expected to begin taking live batting practice next week http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-alex-avila-jersey , and the Marlins hope he can return for another 100 at-bats or so before the end of the season, manager Don Mattingly said.UP NEXTCardinals: Following a day off, the Cardinals open a three-game series at Kansas City, with LHP Austin Gomber (1-0, 4.10 ERA) scheduled to pitch Friday.Marlins: Miami opens a three-game series at home Friday against the Mets, with RHP Jose Urena (3-11, 4.66) scheduled to start the series opener. MILWAUKEE — The Pittsburgh Pirates‘ slim chance of making the playoffs this season have taken a big hit over the last two weeks, and even after taking two of three from the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field this week they sit 7 1/2 games out of wild-card contention.Still, the Pirates could go a long way in determining who does make the National League postseason field this season. They play the NL Central’s top three teams 19 more times this season, including nine meetings with the Milwaukee Brewers, who they will face in a three-game set starting Friday at Miller Park.The Brewers have not fared well against the Pirates this season. Milwaukee has dropped eight of the first 10 meetings, including a five-game sweep in Pittsburgh to close out the first half.Article continues below ...“It’s major league baseball so every team you play is a good team http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-darwin-barney-jersey ,” Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich said. “Their record might not be as good as other teams, but there are talented players on every team and if they put it together, you can lose to them on any given night.“It’s really hard to win a major league baseball game. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it’s going to be tough. We know that. Especially down the stretch here, every single game counts the same and it has equal importance.”The Brewers got some help Wednesday when right-handed reliever Matt Albers returned from the disabled list. If he can revert to his first-half form, when he posted a 1.08 ERA through 21 games, it would be a major lift for a bullpen that’s struggled since closer Corey Knebel was moved out of the ninth-inning role because of command issues. Joakim Soria could slide into that spot if he is cleared to return this weekend, following a 15-day DL stint for a strained thigh.“I think we’re in good shape,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “I feel like we’re healthy and we’re getting healthier. So, there’s a lot of what I feel like are good signs. “Pittsburgh will also make a roster move Friday. The team sent struggling reliever Michael Feliz to Triple-A Indianapolis during its off-day. It was the second demotion of the season for Feliz, who was acquired in the Gerrit Cole trade last January and has a 6.05 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings this season.That made him the weak link in a bullpen that has been stellar over the last few weeks as the Pirates surged back into contention, only to be stymied by an offense that all but disappeared during their recent home stand when they only scored seven runs against the Cubs and Braves.“We’re doing some things really well Bartolo Colon Jersey ,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “We’re not scoring runs at the end of the day, which can complicate things and put you under a magnifying glass in every other aspect of the game. But I can’t look any of the hitters in the eye and not see fight, not see want-to, not see effort and all those other things. It’s tough sledding right now.”Right-hander Joe Musgrove (5-7, 3.31 ERA) gets the start for the Pirates on Friday. He struck out seven while holding the Cubs to a run over seven innings to get the win in a 3-1 victory on Saturday.In his only career start against the Brewers, he did not get a decision after allowing five runs to Milwaukee in the Pirates’ 7-6 victory at PNC Park on July 15 this season.Milwaukee hands the ball to left-hander Wade Miley (2-2, 2.18) for the series opener. Miley has established himself as one of the team’s top pitchers after battling through groin and rib injuries to start the season. He has held opponents to no more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts and allowed two or fewer in eight of those contests.Miley is 2-3 with a 3.77 ERA in eight career starts against Pittaburgh, and in his only start against the Pirates this season, he gave up two runs, four hits and five walks in five innings and took the loss in a 6-3 defeat on July 12.