month contract to replace Andre Villas-Boas on Monday after two games in tem

ST. LOUIS -- John Lackey still isnt happy about getting pushed back in the rotation. After powering back into the St. Louis post-season pitching picture with 7 2-3 dominant innings in a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, the veteran right-hander grudgingly admitted extra rest might have been a good thing. "Yeah, I guess it helped," Lackey said after a pause. "Well go with that." Asked whether he had his best stuff, Lackey fired back a fastball. "Since when? Since ever? No, not even close," Lackey said. "I definitely felt better than I have in a couple weeks, for sure." Randal Grichuk and Matt Holliday hit consecutive homers in the first for the NL Central leaders, who had only five hits but maintained a 2 1-2-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates with eight games remaining. The Cardinals magic number is seven for clinching a second straight division title and two over third-place Milwaukee for securing a fourth straight post-season berth. St. Louis is 6-1 on its final nine-game homestand. Lackey (14-9) was passed over in the just-completed three-game series against Milwaukee after complaining of a dead arm. The 35-year-old right-hander arrived at the trade deadline with a big-game reputation and noted after beating Cincinnati, "I think thats why Im here." But he was 2-2 with a 5.05 ERA in his first eight starts. Lackey was especially well-rested for the sagging Reds, considering he was ejected in the third inning of his previous outing Sept. 10 at Cincinnati. The Cardinals jumped on rookie lefty Mike Holmberg (1-2) early. With one out in the first, Grichuk lined an 0-2 pitch into the visitors bullpen in left. Three pitches later, Holliday lined his 19th over the centre field wall. Centre fielder Jon Jay helped keep the Reds down, twice robbing Ryan Ludwick of extra bases with leaping catches at the wall. The first catch came one at-bat before Zack Cozarts RBI single in the second. "This ballpark plays bigger now, the colder it gets," Jay said. "I knew on both of those balls I was going to have a chance." Cozart was thrown out at second, and the call was confirmed by replay after the Reds appealed. Holmberg allowed three hits the rest of his six innings in his fourth start of the year and second appearance this month against St. Louis. He worked 5 2-3 innings against the Cardinals on Sept. 8 after replacing injured Dylan Axelrod after one batter. The Cardinals have 101 homers, second-fewest in the majors ahead of only the cross-state Royals. They have gone back-to-back just twice, the other on July 5 when Allen Craig and Jhonny Peralta connected against Miami. Lackey was the eighth straight starter to allow no more than one earned run, but lately the margin has been thin. The Cardinals have totalled nine runs while winning three of the last four, two of those games lasting a combined seven extra innings. After Trevor Rosenthal was pulled with two on and one out in the ninth, Randy Choate struck out Jay Bruce and Seth Maness, and retired Ryan Ludwick for his third save in three chances. The Reds, who have lost five in a row, fell to 22-38 in one-run decisions. They lead the majors in one-run losses. "Its a broken record," manager Bryan Price said. "To be honest with you, its at the point where youre tired talking about the same game, losing 2-1, 3-2. "At some point in time weve got to do something to win some of these games." The Cardinals are 47-24 against the Reds at 9-year-old Busch Stadium. UP NEXT: Reds: Mike Leake (11-12, 3.65) needs one strikeout for 600. He has been victimized by a team-high five blown saves. He is 2-1 in four starts this year against St. Louis. Cardinals: Michael Wacha (5-6, 3.14) makes his first start since Sept. 9 and likely will be on a limited pitch count. He is 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA in three starts against the Reds this year. TRAINERS ROOM: Reds: Joey Votto (left knee) is on the trip but is running out of time to play. He has missed 91 games during two stints on the DL. Cardinals: Shelby Miller took a one-hop liner off his right ankle in the sixth inning and was taken out as a precaution. Though sporting a nasty bruise, tests showed nothing serious. STREAK ENDS: Reds 2B Brandon Phillips 107-game errorless streak, a franchise record for his position, ended when he threw wide to first on Jon Jays grounder in the second. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . Didnt need any help this time. Wood beat Cincinnati for the first time in his career, repeatedly pitching out of threats for seven innings, and Chicago stalled the Reds week-long surge with a 2-0 victory Monday night. Stitched NFL Jerseys . "It feels good, Ive never had one before, not even in College," Hagelin said after the Rangers outgunned the Jets 4-2, behind some solid goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist following a pretty wide open first period. http://www.authenticnfljerseys.net/ Wholesale NFL Jerseys Authentic . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Jerseys Paypal . Of course that doesnt mean hes ignoring it. Thats actually rather impossible given the behind-the-scenes access to the Toronto Maple Leafs the network is getting. LONDON -- Tim Sherwoods first game in full charge of Tottenham ended in disappointment as Emmanuel Adebayors error gifted West Bromwich a 1-1 draw in the English Premier League on Thursday. Within two minutes of Christian Eriksen putting Tottenham ahead from a free kick, Adebayor miscued Morgan Amalfitanos cross and Jonas Olsson tapped in easily from close range to equalize in the 38th minute. The draw saw Tottenham drop to eighth place, while West Brom was 15th. "We should have played better and we are capable of playing better," Sherwood said. "I thought we could be a bit more adventurous around the penalty box and show a little more guile." Sherwood was hired on an 18-month contract to replace Andre Villas-Boas on Monday after two games in temporary charge, including a 3-2 victory at Southampton in the league last weekend. "Its a gamble because Ive never done it before," the 44-year-old Sherwood said. "Butt there are a lot of good managers who had never done it before and become a success.dddddddddddd I was never a professional footballer until I stepped on to the field." The fact that he only has a contract until the end of next season has prompted suggestions that Sherwood is keeping the seat warm for someone with more experience. "I regard (that) as an insult, but it is only an insult if I go and win all the games," Sherwood said. "What can we do? If we win all the games and someone else comes in and keeps it and brings someone else in after Ive won the league then Im going to Real Madrid," he added with a smile. West Brom is still searching for a replacement for Steve Clarke, who was fired last month. Keith Downing is in temporary charge. "I hope (an appointment) is close for the players sake," said Downing, who will stay in London with his players ahead of Saturdays game against West Ham. ' ' '