Cardinals 8, Reds 5

Eddie Guardado knew it was a chance to get back in the mix. He entered the game in the sixth inning with one out, the bases loaded and the Reds up 4-3.

“In my situation, it was a great opportunity to prove something,” he said.

Instead, he got the worst possible outcome. Rick Ankiel hit a 1-1 pitch for a grand slam to give the Cardinals a 7-4.

“I threw a pretty good breaking pitch that he swung and missed,” Guardado said. “The story of my career right now is I throw one good pitch and one bad pitch I pay for.”

The bad pitch was another breaking ball, up a bit.

“Obviously, I've got to make a better pitch,” Guardado said.

Pete Mackanin mentioned "pennant race" after the game. The Reds remain seven games back of the Chicago Cubs. But the Reds are running out of season. If the Cubs go 14-15 the rest of the way, the Reds need to 20-7, just to tie.