4-game series with the Reds and going 2-1 against the Milwaukee Brewers, The cardinals would go on another 6 game winning streak, sweeping the Colorado Rockies and winning 2 more against the Brewers. After another loss against the Brewers, the Cardinals would win both games of a double-header against the Cincinnati Reds. With an 18-9 record (and only losing 4 games from August 9-31), they now had a 73-58 record and were 3 games in front of the second place team Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals continued their winning streak, winning a series against the San Francisco Giants 3-1 and Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1, moving themselves to 4 games ahead in first. However, their next two series wouldn't be as good, with them losing 1-2 against the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers. Meanwhile, the Cubs went on a 4 game winning streak meaning the Cardinals were now just 2 games ahead in first. The next series against the Washington Nationals the Cardinals would win 2-1 while the Cubs win streak would snap and they would fall back one game. Meanwhile, the Brewers went on their own 4-game winning streak meaning they were now tied with the Chicago Cubs and in running for the Wild Card spot. With 10 games left in the season, the team the Cardinals would playing against in the series would be the Chicago Cubs. If the Cardinals swept the Cubs, then they would clinch into the playoffs. If the Cubs swept the Cardinals, they would be pushed back to second. In the first game, the Cardinals took a 4-1 lead in the 6th inning. after two scoreless inning, pitcher Carlos Martinez was brought in to close the match in the bottom of the 9th. He would give up 1 walk and 3 hits allowing the Cubs to come back to 4-3 with one out and a man on third. A pitching change would allow Andrew Miller to come in and get the final two outs, but still allow the tying run to come in making it 4-4 with extra innings. In the 10th inning, Matt Carpenter would hit a home run and make it 5-4 Cardinals bringing them back to the same situation. Pitcher Giovanny Gallegos would be brought in to close the game. He would get 3 consecutive outs leading to a Cardinal victory. The Brewers would also win pushing the Cubs down to third. In the