Matt Holliday smacked a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning and Chris Carpenter threw 7 1/3 solid innings to pace the St. Louis Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Sunday.

The win pulled St. Louis back to within seven games of the Reds in the race for the National League Central pennant.

Carpenter gave up just two runs on six hits while striking out 11 to record his 15th win of the season, while Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey allowed four runs over six innings to take the loss.

Ryan Franklin came on in the ninth inning and recorded his 24th save of the year.

Holliday finished with two hits including the homer and a run scored for the Cardinals while outfielder Colby Rasmus had two hits and scored a run.

Orlando Cabrera drove in two runs in the fifth inning with his 25th double for the Reds, who were 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position.