The first-place Cardinals now lead the Mets by two and a half games.

The Mets remained four and a half games behind the first-place Cardinals, who lost to the Phillies.

Last week, he pitched complete-game victories against the third-place Montreal Expos and the first-place Cardinals.

Todd Worrell got the final three outs for the first-place Cardinals, allowing one hit.

By taking three of four games from the Cubs, the first-place Cardinals left with a three-game lead over Chicago in the National League East.

Now they are in second, 10 games from the first-place Cardinals, and have a one-game lead over the Nationals in the wild-card standings.

In 2011, the Cubs once again possessed one of the worst records in baseball, finishing at 71-91, 25 games behind the first-place Cardinals.

The Mets gave up 70 runs in 20 games, the first-place Cardinals 74 in 20.

In the lounge, a few players became fans, rooting for the first-place Cardinals to lose.

But Cincinnati is still just four games behind the first-place Cardinals as this series begins.