Cardinals 12, Nationals 2: Yadier Molina homered and drove in three runs as host St. Louis moved closer to securing a wild card berth after scoring nine runs in the first two innings.

Adam Wainwright (14-13) gave up one run over six frames for the Cardinals, whose magic number to clinch the National League's second wild card is two over the Los Angeles Dodgers with five games to play. The Dodgers defeated Colorado 8-0 to remain three games back of St. Louis.

Allen Craig sparked the Cardinals’ four-run first inning with an RBI single off Edwin Jackson (9-11), who allowed nine runs (eight earned) over 1 1/3 frames. The Nationals' magic number to clinch the NL East is two over Atlanta with five games to play.

Washington suffered its largest margin of defeat this season behind an awful outing from Jackson, who retired just three of the 15 batters he faced and owns a 7.92 ERA in five starts this month.

Craig tied a career high with four hits and Shane Robinson clubbed a two-run homer in the eighth for the Cardinals, who have won nine of their last 11 games.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cardinals OF Matt Holliday left the game in the sixth inning with a left elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch. … Washington fell to 1-11 at Busch Stadium since the beginning of the 2008 season. ... St. Louis 3B David Freese missed his fourth straight game with a right ankle sprain, but he’s expected to return during the series.