The Cardinals clinched the National League Wild Card due in part to an 8-0 clobbering of the Astros on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park. Following the victory, the Cards watched as the Braves suffered a 4-3 loss to the Phillies in 13 innings. The win coupled with Atlanta's loss gave the Cards the final playoff spot in the NL. St. Louis will face the Phillies in Game One of their NL division series in Philadelphia Saturday.

Chris Carpenter struck out 11 in a two-hit shutout. Carpenter upped his record to 11-and-9. The Cards scored five runs in the first inning in the win. Brett Myers gave up seven runs, six earned, through five frames to fall to 7-and-14 on the season. The 'Stros finished the season at an MLB-worst 56-and-106.