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ST. LOUIS - It didnt take Tony Cruz long to consider all of his home runs and rank his latest. Hes only had three in his 100-game career and the first two came on the road. Cruz hit a three-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals connected three times, beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Saturday night and moving closer to their fourth straight playoff berth. "It was a really good feeling," said Cruz, who also had the first curtain call of his career. "The first one of the year is always a really good feeling and my first one at home. You know you hear the crowd. Its amazing." Milwaukee beat second-place Pittsburgh 1-0 on Saturday to give the St. Louis a 3 1/2-game lead in the NL Central. The Cardinals cut their magic number to one for clinching a post-season berth, and five for their second NL Central title in a row. Kolten Wong and Randal Grichuk also homered as St. Louis won for the seventh time in eight games. The Cardinals have hit five homers in the past two games, but have just 104 for the season — among the lowest total in the majors. Their lack of power has provided an ongoing issue manager Mike Matheny has had to address. "I like the home runs," Matheny said in his postgame interview. "You guys always accuse me of not liking them, but especially those three-runners that Tony did. We know we have the kind of team that can do that and its nice to see them." Cincinnatis four runs were as many as it scored in the previous five games. The Reds have lost six in row and has been outscored 30-8 in that stretch. They are 20-40 since the All-Star break. "Youre seeing us having to go out there and really struggle so mightily to try to find a way to win a ball game," manager Bryan Price said. "Certainly nobodys enjoying this current portion of our schedule. The way weve played for the last 60 games has been miserable." Jason Motte (1-0) needed just three pitches and one out to earn the win. He came in relief of starter Michael Wacha and got Todd Frazier to foul out to right. Wacha didnt qualify for the win because he lasted just 4 2-3 innings. He was seeking his first win since June 17 before going on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Wacha gave up two runs and six hits on 78 pitches, the most since returning at the start of the month. "I felt a lot better, today," he said. "More secondary stuff was working for me. My command was a little bit better. I felt it was a step in the right direction." Mike Leake (11-13) allowed six runs in five innings. He also walked two and hit a batter, all of whom scored. He gave up two homers and has surrendered 22 this season. Cruz hit his first homer in more than a year, connecting in the second. His last home run was Aug. 4, 2013, at Cincinnati. Wong hit his 12th, a two-run shot in the third. Grichuck added a pinch-hit homer in the sixth — it was his third of the season and his second in two nights. Grichuck later added an RBI bloop double. Zack Cozart homered for the Reds and Kris Negron doubled twice. TRAINERS ROOM Cardinals: 1B Matt Adams and 3B Matt Carpenter both were out of the starting lineup with a stomach virus. Matheny said they were "quarantined," though it wasnt clear if they were at Busch Stadium and available or sent home. ... Star C Yadier Molina got his first start of the season. Reds: C Devin Mesoraco was pulled in the sixth inning because of a stomach bug. Price said Mesoraco could have continued but the manager didnt think it was worth it. UP NEXT Reds: RHP Alfredo Simon (14-10, 3.35) has given up five hits in seven innings during each of his past two starts, including in a 4-2 win against St. Louis on Sept. 10. The Cardinals have batted .228 in 101 at-bats against Simon over 22 2-3 innings. Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (15-9, 2.68) has given up two runs over his past 15 innings and went 0-1 in those games, including a 1-0 loss at Cincinnati on Sept. 11. He has a 2.00 ERA this month over four starts and goes after his fourth win against the Reds. He is 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA in four games against them division rivals this season. Nike Air Max Plus France . Needing to bulk up on both sides of the line, the Falcons agreed to terms with guard Jon Asamoah, defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai. Asamoah and Jackson played last season with Kansas City, where Asamoah lost his starting job. Air Max Pas Cher France . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. http://www.outletairmaxpascher.fr/fausse-vapormax-plus.html. The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Air Max 97 Plus Solde Homme . The government says top golfers are expected to compete in the PGA Tour event at the Ashburn Golf Club in the suburb of Fall River from July 3-6 and again next year. Air Max 97 Off White Pas Cher Femme . The South Africa international, who rejoined the club last month on loan from Tottenham, opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a powerful shot into the roof of the net.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Dee Milliner is getting closer to making his season debut for the New York Jets. The teams top cornerback returned to practice Wednesday for the first time in a month after a high ankle sprain kept him sidelined since Aug. 10. Milliner was a limited participant, and his status for the Jets game at Green Bay on Sunday is still uncertain. But it was a promising development for Milliner, who injured his left ankle during training camp. "I feel great," Milliner said. "I feel good. I did some things the other day and moved around a lot." Rex Ryan said a big test to gauge whether Milliner might be able to play this weekend is how the ankle feels Thursday. Milliner worked in team drills, and participated in individual drills with the defensive backs. "Lets see how he comes back," Ryan said. "(Green Bay) had 75 snaps on offence, and I dont expect Dee to play 75 snaps on defence. But well see how he progresses. "Im cautiously optimistic that hell be able to go." That means the Jets could have their main cover guy against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers potent offence — even if hes not on the field the entire game. "Look around, if he can play in a limited role, lets play him in a limited role," Ryan said. "Thats how I see it. In his case, I dont believe the injury can get worse. Its pain, its a lot of different things, but hes healed. I think its just now working through some soreness and everything else, mental things." The Jets started safety Antonio Allen and backup Darrin Walls at cornerback in the 19-14 season-opening win over Oakland last Sunday. Both Allen and Walls were solid, particularly with open-field tackles, but the return of Milliner — who proclaimed during camp that he believes hes the NFLs top cornerback — would be a huge boost to Ryans secondary. New York has been thin at the cornerback spot since Milliiner was injured, rookie Dexter McDougle was lost for the season with a knee injury and veteran Dimitri Patterson, an expected starter, was released after the Jets said he left the team before a preseason game and didnt speak to anyone in the organization for 48 hours.dddddddddddd The Jets have been scrambling to find depth since, and hoping for Milliner to return sooner rather than later. "Im very optimistic," Milliner said. "Just have to get out there and do what they tell me to do, just keep working. Basically, just do what they tell me to do, and if I feel good, Ill be out there." Right guard Willie Colon (calf) and rookie linebacker Ikemefuna Enemkpali (foot) were limited at practice. Colon isnt concerned about his injury and doesnt think itll be an issue Sunday, while Enemkpali missed the opener. Safety Josh Bush (quadriceps), linebacker A.J. Edds (hamstring) and tight end Jeff Cumberland (personal reasons) did not practice. NOTES: The Jets drafted S Calvin Pryor with the No. 18 overall pick in May, choosing him over Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, considered by some to be the top safety available. Clinton-Dix ended up being drafted by the Packers three spots after Pryor. "Both guys were excellent players," Ryan said during a conference call with Packers reporters. "We would have been happy with either guy. But I took the guy who will knock your face in." ... QB Geno Smith on the Ray Rice situation: "The NFLs made a decision and the Ravens have made their decision. I have met Ray and, personally, I think hes a good dude. I think he made a mistake, and in a time like that, you just have to let the powers that be do their job, and they have." ... Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on his teams last meeting with the Jets, a 9-0 win for Green Bay in 2010: "We had a great game. We scored nine points, they scored zero. So, it was a barn burner." ' ' '