ST. LOUIS, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Brendan Ryan's ninth-inning RBI single Saturday boosted St. Louis to a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Ryan's third hit -- one a solo homer -- broke a 1-1 tie with two on and no outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Yadier Molina also had three hits and Skip Schumaker two for the Cardinals, who have won 10 of 15 against the Cubs this season and reduced their magic number to four victories to clinch the NL Central Division title.
Starter Chris Carpenter surrendered eight hits in eight scoreless innings before the Cubs scored the game-tying run on Jeff Baker's sacrifice fly off closer Ryan Franklin with no outs in the top of the ninth.
Franklin (4-3) was the winner despite his fifth blown save.
Micah Hoffpauir had three of the 10 hits and Bobby Scales had two hits for the Cubs, who have lost four straight.
The losing pitcher was Carlos Marmol (2-4).
