Sunday Audibles: High 5

~ Cardinals' top five wins of 2012.

1. THE BEATDOWN: A 13-0 road win at Pittsburgh on Aug. 1. The offensive explosion averted an absurd five-game sweep by the Pirates, who already had shoved the Cards out of first a couple days earlier. The Cards' fourth straight loss to the Pirates came with ace Adam Wainwright on the mound and was part of a season-long seven-game skid. Bedrock catcher Yadier Molina was on the DL, and Pirates fans were waving the Jolly Roger. These were desperate times. I should know: I was in enemy waters with my daughter, Lindsey, witnessing the pickle. It was super Joe Kelly to the rescue, and Beatdown II came a day later in Cincinnati.

2. THE WELCOME MATT: A 5–4 road win over Cincinnati on Sept. 4. Matt Adams hit home runs in the 14th and 16th innings, having fate thrust upon him after replacing Allen Craig, who suffered a foot injury in the fourth inning that still has him sidelined.

3. THE GIFT: A 4-3 home win over Pirates in 14 innings Aug. 13. In a tight race, It's the little things that make the difference -- like, umm ... catching the ball. What an unexpected gift from Pirates left fielder Starling Marte, who dropped a can of corn with one out and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth to help keep the toe-tag off the Cards, who were on course for a 3-2 loss and threatening to fall four games off the pace in the opener of a three-game series. Allen Craig made the Bucs pay for the gaffe with a two-out single to tie the game.

4. THE GUT CHECK: A 7-6 road win over Brewers in 10 innings Sept. 20. The boys had dropped a 15-inning game a day earlier in Colorado, and the bullpen buckled again in Milwaukee after Matt Adams provided a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth with a two-run blast. The Cardinals averted total disaster by wiggling out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a home-to-first double play to live to see the 10th. Carlos Beltran's sacrifice fly ultimately moved the Cards two games ahead of the Reds and Pirates, who both lost.

5. THE BEST OF MR. CLUTCH: An 8-6 home win over Reds at home Aug. 26. Everyone was in scoring position for Allen Craig in this one. He hit a three-run home run and a grand slam in rallying the Cards from deficits of 4-0 and 6-3. The win moved St. Louis into sole possession of first for the first time since July 29.