Harrison Bader, Michael Wacha leads the Cardinals against Brewers

ST. LOUIS – The Cardinals' attack on their division has tightened slightly as three Milwaukee defensemen escaped Tuesday night on what appeared to be a two-person popup routine. The ball dropped. The bases erased. And the Cardinals took advantage of the momentum kick in a 9-4 win over the

ST. LOUIS – The Cardinals' attack on their division has tightened slightly as three Milwaukee defensemen escaped Tuesday night on what appeared to be a two-person popup routine. The ball dropped. The bases erased. And the Cardinals took advantage of the 9-4 win over the Brewers at the Busch Stadium.

The immediate meaning was obvious: the Cardinals increased their Milwaukee division lead to four games while maintaining a half-game advantage over the Cubs. But could it also be the beginning of something more?

• The score of the box

The Cardinals, who entered the night with a 53.8% post-season probability, by FanGraphs, have remained afloat this season despite the fact that some of their best shots are not working. This included watching their opening Day defensive player find the Minors after losing momentum, and seeing a starter who had already been stable lose his command and then his rotation position.

What Harrison Bader and Michael Wacha not to lose, however, was another chance to do things.

Tuesday offered a glimpse of what could still be if the Cardinals can get a more consistent production from two players who can radically alter the look of this training. Fresh from his Triple-A stint, Bader reached the goal three times, scored two points and managed a five-star catch that limited the Brewers points in the sixth.

Wacha, although he was withdrawn too early to take this decision into account, gave the Cardinals four decisive innings in his second appearance since his reinstatement in the rotation. He took out five and did not resist the Brewers offensive that scored 24 points over the weekend against the Nationals.