The Cardinals scored a last-gasp victory at Wrigley Field to maintain some breathing room atop the National League Central.
They will need it as they play in Pittsburgh this weekend. The Pirates are rolling again. They have won five straight games and 10 of their last 12.
They are 37-18 since May 9, which is better than any team in baseball.
They rallied past the Padres Wednesday, scoring their 22nd come-from-behind victory. Newcomer Travis Ishikawa jumped into the fray and scored the winning run.
“Belief,” he told reporters. “You have all 25 guys believing they can do it.