ST. LOUIS, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Matt Holliday opened the ninth inning with a home run off Aaron Heilman Friday, giving St. Louis a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.
St. Louis increased its lead over Chicago to 10 games in the National League Central. Any combination of six St. Louis wins or Chicago losses during the final two weeks of the season will make the Cardinals division champion.
The Cardinals have a 34-16 record since July 24, when they obtained Holliday in a trade with Oakland.
The Cardinals defeated the Cubs for the eighth time in 11 games.
St. Louis starter John Smoltz allowed six hits and two runs over six innings. The win went to Ryan Franklin (3-3), who worked the top of the ninth.
Holliday's homer was his 24th of the season. Heilman fell to 3-4 in what was the opener of a 10-game road trip for the Cubs.
