ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Ryan Ludwick lacked a triple for the cycle and had two RBIs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals' comeback from a three-run deficit in a 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

Rebounding from a 12-0 rout Tuesday, the Cardinals scored four runs in the eighth inning and pulled within 3 1/2 games of the Brewers for the NL wild-card lead. That's where they were starting a two-game series that was their final shot against Milwaukee.