Cardinals salvage finale of series in 10 innings

ST. LOUIS -- Matt Carpenter picked up another series of cuts to his already beat-up hand on Sunday.

Not that the St. Louis backup is complaining.

Carpenter scored the winning run with a picture-perfect slide on Allen Craig's single in the 10th inning, giving the Cardinals a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cardinals broke a three-game losing streak and avoided a three-game sweep. St. Louis held onto its slim lead for the second NL wild-card spot.

The Brewers, who have won 15 of 20, tied it in the ninth on Norichika Aoki's two-out, two-run homer off closer Jason Motte. The two-strike drive barely cleared the right-field wall.

The Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter scores the winning run as Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy misses the tag during the 10th inning Sunday in St. Louis. (Jeff Roberson ~ Associated Press)

Carpenter singled with one out in the 10th off Kameron Loe (6-5) and moved up on a wild pitch. Craig singled to right field with two outs, and Carpenter barely eluded the tag from catcher Jonathan Lucroy after a strong throw by Aoki.

"I had an angle and I just tried to avoid the tag, and thankfully I got in there," Carpenter said. "I got some new blood from that."

Carpenter sustained five cuts on his hands when his bat shattered in a 6-3 loss Saturday. He left the game in the third inning as blood dripped from his hands.

Carpenter showed up early Sunday and went through some hitting and throwing drills to prove to Cardinals manager Mike Matheny that he was fit to play.

"The work ethic he has, the energy he brings, he's a very good teammate," Matheny said.

Now, thanks to his game-winning slide, he has two other cuts and one huge scrape on his bruised hands.

"It's sore, but it's nothing that would keep me out," Carpenter said. "Once you get that adrenaline going, you don't think about it."

Craig recorded his first career walk-off hit.

"It's a great feeling," Craig said. "The last few days haven't been so great. It was good to battle back after a tough game."

The loss slowed the Brewers, who were trying to reach the .500 mark for the first time since April 24.

Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke was pleased with his team's performance and its ability to bounce back in the ninth.

"We played a really good game today. They just came through with a really big hit," Roenicke said. "I'm OK with the three games we just played."

Lance Lynn (14-7) picked up the win with one inning of scoreless relief.

Matt Holliday hit a two-run homer, his 26th, off Shaun Marcum in the first inning. One out later, Carlos Beltran hit his 29th home run and first since Aug. 10.

Beltran ended an 0-for-14 slump. He had not gotten an extra-base hit in his previous 49 at-bats.

"It was good for me to go out there and get a couple hits," Beltran said. "Lately, it's been a battle at the plate."

St. Louis pushed the lead to 4-1 in the second on doubles by pitcher Joe Kelly and Carpenter.

Milwaukee climbed to within 4-2 in the fourth on singles by Corey Hart, Jonathan Lucroy and Jean Segura.

Segura, who had a career-high three hits, doubled with one out in the ninth off Motte. One out later, Aoki hit his eighth home run.