Cards come back vs. Cubs, stay right on Mets’ heels

ST. LOUIS — It’ll likely be only a matter of days before the Cubs wrap up the inevitable and officially secure the National League Central crown. That celebration, however, will be one the defending division champs won’t have to watch.

Boosted to a 4-2 win by homers from Brandon Moss and Aledmys Diaz at Busch Stadium on Tuesday, the Cardinals ensured that the Cubs’ champagne will remain on ice for the duration of their stay. With Chicago’s magic number stuck on three, the earliest the Cubs can clinch a division title is Thursday.

“It’s inevitable at this point,” Chicago’s Dexter Fowler said. “It’s just a matter of when.”

For the Cardinals, though, this victory wasn’t merely about delaying the Cubs’ uncorking. More important, this was a win critical to keeping up in the Wild Card race. The Cardinals remain a half-game behind the Mets, who defeated the Nationals in Washington, for the second Wild Card spot.

• Moss picks perfect time to break out of slump

Starting with Fowler’s leadoff homer, the Cubs jumped out to a two-run lead that initiated the early exit of struggling Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny pulled Garcia with the bases loaded in the second inning, preferring to put the game into the hands of rookie right-hander Alex Reyes. Reyes struck out Kris Bryant to end that frame.

“We were up against a wall,” Matheny said. “That was a swing point of that game, and Alex did something special to keep us in it. I’m not sure there can be a more stressful situation for a young pitcher.”

• Reyes steps up when Garcia falters

Reyes had his own issues — he walked six over 4 1/3 innings — but did not allow a run, and twice he stranded the bases full.

“I was kind of all over the place,” said Reyes, who threw 85 pitches, 43 for strikes. “But at the end of the day, what’s important is giving your team a chance to win by putting zeros on the board.”

In holding down the Cubs’ offense, Reyes bought time for the Cardinals to mount their 26th come-from-behind victory of the season. Moss, who entered the game with one hit in his previous 41 at-bats, was at the center of it. He extended the second with a single, which put him on base when Diaz blasted his first home run since returning from the disabled list. Moss then connected for a two-out homer of his own off Cubs starter Jason Hammel to put the Cardinals ahead in the sixth.

“A great feeling,” Moss said of his sixth tie-breaking homer of the season. “It’s a big game, especially for us, and kind of a big moment. Just to be …

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