MLB: Colorado 2, St. Louis 1

DENVER, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Yorvit Torrealba lifted a sacrifice fly to right in the ninth inning Friday that gave Colorado a 2-1 victory over St. Louis.

In a battle of teams that could meet in the playoffs, the Rockies scored in the first and ninth innings to halt a two-game losing streak.

St. Louis entered the night needing either a win over Colorado or a loss by the Chicago Cubs in San Francisco to clinch the National League Central title. Colorado increased its playoff chances, staying four games in front of Atlanta in the NL wild card race. San Francisco also started the night four games behind the Rockies.

Colorado's first run also came on a sacrifice fly by Todd Helton and the Cardinals tied it in the seventh on the 21st homer of the year by Ryan Ludwick.

Trever Miller (4-1) began his second inning of work by walking Helton to open the ninth and was replaced by Kyle McClellan.

Mike McCoy came on to run for Helton and was forced at second on a fielder's choice grounder by Troy Tulowitzki. Jason Giambi then singled Tulowitzki to third, from where he scored the winning run on Torrealba's fly ball.

Huston Street (4-1) got the win by working a perfect top of the ninth.