The difference between a 76-win team that fancies itself still in the wild-card hunt and the 74-win team that, inch by inch, recedes from such notions was clear from the opportunities exploited.

The Cincinnati Reds used all three of starter Andre Pallante’s walks to generate runs for a 6-2 victory against the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium. Reds first baseman Spencer Steer crushed a three-homer in the fourth inning to give Cincinnati the lead after two teammates walked, and he added a two-out single late to punctuate a five-RBI game.

The Cardinals (74-79) lost for the seventh time in nine games.

They were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position before the ninth inning.

The Cardinals also dropped their third consecutive series while the Reds (76-76) returned to .500

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