Cardinals Clinch Playoff Spot, Lose to Reds - East Idaho News
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Cardinals Clinch Playoff Spot, Lose to Reds

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MLB?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1411384897618Major League Baseball(SAINT LOUIS) — The St. Louis Cardinals clinched a playoff spot for the fourth straight season, but did so despite losing to the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 on Sunday.

St. Louis (87-69) reached the postseason thanks to Milwaukee’s 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh earlier.

Jay Bruce hit a pair of home runs, two of the four belted by the Reds (72-84), helping Cincinnati snap a six-game losing streak. Starting pitcher Alfredo Simon (15-10) gave up just two run over six innings for the win. Todd Frazier’s solo shot in the top of the sixth gave the Reds the lead for good, one that was ballooned by a Bruce RBI Single later that inning.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals must now fight for the National League Central division crown while battling a flu bug that is going throughout the clubhouse. Both Matt Adams and Matt Carpenter sat out for the second consecutive game due to flu-like symptoms.

“There are a lot of guys that are unavailable,” said St. Louis manager Mike Matheny. “Almost as many unavailable as available.”

Matheny also added that more than 10 players are sick, many of whom may be held back from the team flight to Chicago on Monday. The Cardinals will play the Cubs in a three-game series and currently hold a 2 1/2 game lead over the Pirates in the division.


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