Cards top Reds 4-2, clinch tie for 2nd wild card

Published On: Oct 02 2012 08:04:15 AM CDT
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ST. LOUIS -

Jaime Garcia homered off Bronson Arroyo and pitched into the seventh inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals clinch a tie for the second NL wild card and spoil Dusty Baker's return from a mini-stroke with a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

The defending World Series champions have won 11 of 14 and lead the Los Angeles Dodgers by 2 games. 

Arroyo (12-10) threw 73 pitches while allowing three runs over five innings in a tuneup for the postseason. He topped 200 innings for the seventh time but is 0-3 in his last four starts.

The Reds are 96-64, tied with the Nationals for the best record in the National League with two games to go, and must finish ahead of Washington to get home-field advantage throughout the postseason after losing the season series.

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