Following the bottom of the 6th inning, the St. Louis Cardinals lead the Cincinnati Reds, 8-1, in the second showing of their three-game set. Earlier in the day it was announced that Albert Pujols would be made available for the NL Central showdown. However, as the Cardinal advantage continues to stretch higher, it becomes less and less likely that the superstar will be seen from.

Lance Berkman and Matt Holliday can take the credit for that development. Facing rumblings of Pujols' return, St. Louis' other two stars started things off quickly, blasting successive two-out solo homeruns off Edison Volquez in the bottom of the first inning.

Volquez would last four more innings before being chased off following a three-run sixth that pushed the score to 8-1. The righthander left the game with an unremarkable line of five-and-a-third innings pitched, with six earned runs off seven hits.

St. Louis' Jamie Garcia looks to be in line to pick up the win. The lefty pitched a superb six innings, giving up just one run off two hits while striking out four.