Needing a big road trip to propel themselves back into contention for a playoff spot, the St. Louis Cardinals produced a 7-3 mark against the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. Now they come home to start a season-ending stretch of 22 games against National League Central competition, 13 of them in Busch Stadium, beginning Friday night when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit. St. Louis (72-68) is three games behind the Colorado Rockies for the NL's second wild-card spot and five games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the Central.