ST. LOUIS -- The Reds' fading playoff hopes were dealt another blow on Tuesday with a 3-0 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Because of a Mets win over the Padres, the Reds (75-76) now trail New York by three games for the final National League Wild Card spot with 11 games remaining. They also are behind the Diamondbacks and Giants, who are playing against each other out west.

While throwing 96 pitches, Reds starter Andrew Abbott lasted only 4 2/3 innings while giving up three earned runs and eight hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. A majority of the Cardinals’ hits -- five -- came with two strikes.

St. Louis took a 1-0 first inning lead when Abbott opened his night with leadoff batter Brendan Donovan hitting a double to center field and Iván Herrera following with a si

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