ST. LOUIS, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Scott Rolen and J.D. Drew each hit three-run homers off Curt Schilling Wednesday to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-1 victory and a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who suffered their season-high sixth straight loss.
The sweep enabled St. Louis (94-64) to draw even with Arizona (94-64) for the second-best record in the National League and the Cardinals hold the tiebreaker advantage for the homefield advantage if the teams meet in the playoffs on the basis of winning the season series, 4-2.
The Diamondbacks appeared to be a lock for the National League West title a week ago, but now hold just a 2 1/2-game lead over second-place San Francisco (91-66), which hosts San Diego on Wednesday night.
Despite the losing streak, the Diamonbacks clinched at least a wild card berth when Los Angeles lost to Colorado on Tuesday.
Arizona hoped Schilling (23-7), a Cy Young Award candidate, would halt the losing streak in his last start of the regular season. But after striking out seven of the first nine batters he faced, Schilling gave up singles to Fernando Vina and Eli Marrero before Rolen hit his 30th home run of the season to give the Cards a 3-0 lead.
The home run came amid a St. Louis Post Dispatch report that Rolen, acquired from Philadelphia in a July 29 trade, has agreed in principle on an eight-year deal worth about $90 million with the Cardinals.
Drew added his three-run homer in the eighth inning.
Garrett Stephenson (2-5) and three relievers combined on a four-hitter for the Cards.
Matt Williams homered in the sixth off reliever Jeff Fassero in the sixth for Arizona's lone run.
