Craig's grand slam vaults Cardinals into sole possession of first place

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals needed a big hit with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh inning on Monday night. Fortunately for them, they had Allen Craig at the plate.

Craig hit his first career grand slam, helping the Cardinals rally for an 8-6 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Matt Holliday also had a long three-run homer as St. Louis moved into sole possession of first place in the NL Central for the first time since July 29. The Cardinals lead idle Pittsburgh by a half-game and Cincinnati by 3 1/2 games in the top-heavy division.

Craig is 7 for 10 with 20 RBIs this season with the bases full.

"I think I've developed a pretty good approach that allows me to be successful in that position," Craig said. "I go up there confident and I believe in myself."

The Cardinals’ Allen Craig, center, is congratulated by Matt Carpenter, left, after hitting a grand slam with two outs during the seventh inning to put St. Louis in the lead Monday in St. Louis. Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco stands nearby. The Cardinals won 8-6. (Jeff Roberson ~ Associated Press)

Rookie Carlos Martinez (1-1) pitched two innings for his first major league win, and Edward Mujica worked a perfect ninth for his 35th save.

Zack Cozart had two hits and three RBIs for the Reds, who dropped to 4-9 against St. Louis this season. Jay Bruce hit his 25th homer in the eighth.

Cozart and Todd Frazier each hit a two-run triple off Tyler Lyons in the second, helping Cincinnati to a 4-0 lead. But Holliday belted a three-run drive deep to left in the third.

Holliday's 18th homer came against Mike Leake and traveled an estimated 442 feet for the longest shot by a St. Louis player at Busch Stadium this season.

"What it comes down to is that guys are just swinging the bats," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

St. Louis Cardinals' Allen Craig smiles in the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

The Cardinals went ahead to stay in the seventh. Jon Jay drove in a run with a bases-loaded grounder off Manny Parra (1-3). J.J. Hoover then came in and walked Holliday on a full-count pitch, and Craig drove the next pitch over the wall in right for his 13th homer.

"I left it a little too much out over the plate," said Hoover, who has allowed three grand slams this season. "I knew he's a good hitter with the bases loaded and I didn't want to come in there on the first pitch."

Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said Craig's drive was "devastating."

"They have a lot of dangerous hitters, but we helped them out with a couple walks," he added.

Craig improved to 14 for 31 (.452) in his career with the bases loaded. He is batting an eye-popping .452 with runners in scoring position this year, a big reason why he leads St. Louis with 95 RBIs.

St. Louis Cardinals' Allen Craig, right, is congratulated by teammates Matt Carpenter (13) and Matt Holliday after hitting a grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

"No bigger or better at-bat all season," Matheny said. "He's been so good in that situation."

The crowd of 35,159 roared as Craig rounded the bases. The first baseman then came out for a curtain call.

"I wasn't thinking about hitting a home run; I just wanted to hit it hard and in play," Craig said. "When guys are on, I just try and hit it hard somewhere and it usually works out."

Craig's drive helped the Cardinals rally from a four-run deficit, tying their largest comeback of the season. They also came from four down to beat Pittsburgh 6-5 in 12 innings on Aug. 15.

Bruce connected against Seth Maness, but that was it for Cincinnati.

St. Louis Cardinals' Allen Craig watches his grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Lyons settled down after the rough start and was charged with one earned run in five innings. He struck out a career-high seven and walked two.

"It was just about bouncing back and trying to keep the team in the game for as long as possible," Lyons said. "I think I did that."