ST. LOUIS, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Allen Craig rallied St. Louis with a seventh-inning grand slam and the Cardinals went on to record an 8-6 comeback win over division rival Cincinnati.
The Cards were trailing 5-3 in the seventh when David Freese led off with a single and pinch-hitter Carlos Beltran doubled one out later, chasing Reds starter Mike Leake.
Manny Parra (1-3) replaced him, only to issue a walk to Matt Carpenter and an RBI groundout to Jon Jay, shaving the Cards' deficit to one run.
J.J. Hoover then issued a walk to Matt Holliday, loading the bases, and Craig (3-for-4) followed by slicing the first pitch he saw over the right field fence for a grand slam, giving him 95 RBI on the season.
Holliday belted a three-run homer for St. Louis, which grabbed a 1/2-game lead over idle Pittsburgh atop the National League Central with a victory in the first of a three-game series.
Carlos Martinez (1-1) earned the decision and Edward Mujica secured the win with his 35th save.
Zack Cozart (three RBI) and Todd Frazier each supplied a two-run triple for the Reds, who fell 3 1/2 game off the pace in the NL Central.
