Edmundo Sosa hit the go-ahead single in a three-run 11th inning and the Cardinals held off the Mets Tuesday night with a 7-6 victory.
The Mets scored twice in the bottom of the 11th, but Kwan Hyung Kim finally nailed down the save.
The Cardinals shook off Javier Báez’s tying homer in the ninth off Giovanny Gallegos.
Jon Lester (5-6, 4.75 ERA) pitches Wednesday night in the series finale, 5:15 with the pregame and the first pitch at 6:10 on KIRX.
St. Louis now occupies the number two wild card position, the Reds are a half a game out, San Diego is one game out, the Phillies are three back, the Mets are now four games out.