Elmer Dessens throws during the second inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

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        ST. LOUIS — Elmer Dessens finally got a break, and the Reds finally got a win at Busch Stadium. That means the Reds have a chance to come home this week in first place.

        They beat the Cardinals 4-2 Saturday night before a crowd of 46,272 to pull within one game of St. Louis in the National League Central Division.

        A win in today's series finale would put the Reds in a tie for first. Saturday's victory was only the Reds' second in six games in St. Louis this year.

        This one was a gift from the Cardinals. Left fielder Albert Pujols dropped a routine fly ball in the seventh inning, allowing the winning run to score.

        “We took advantage of it,” Reds third baseman Aaron Boone said. “That's the big thing. They've had their way with us. It seemed like they won all the close games. This is a good one to get.”

        The win was Dessens' first in five starts. He went six innings and allowed two runs. Dessens (5-4) struck out two and didn't walk a batter for the second straight start.

Juan Encarnacion is congratulated by third base coach Tim Foli while he rounds third after his solo home run in the sixth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “He was very efficient,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “He's learning how to do it.”

        With a little luck earlier in the season, Dessens would be a lock for the All-Star Game. Had the Reds not blown saves for him three times, he would be 8-4 with a 2.58 ERA.

        “A win is nice,” Dessens said. “In this game, especially, it means two games (in the standings).”

        The Reds realize that to have a chance, they have to play better against the Cardinals.

        “We're getting to that time of year,” Aaron Boone said. “We've got to string some wins together.”

        Dessens hasn't allowed more than two runs in a game since May 28. In six starts since then, he has allowed a total of nine runs.

        Dessens was at his best from the start. Through three innings, he allowed only a bunt single to Jim Edmonds.

        The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead on Eli Marrero's fifth-inning leadoff home run. It was the first homer for St. Louis in 41 innings.

        The lead didn't last long, however, as Juan Encarnacion tied it up with his second home run in as many nights. As is usually the case with Encarnacion, the homer was a no-doubter — a 401-foot blast to left-center. It was Encarnacion's 16th of the year, putting him one ahead of Adam Dunn for the club lead.

Jason LaRue slides into the backstop while catching a popup. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Edmonds untied it with a sixth-inning solo homer — his 14th of the year.

        Until the seventh, the Reds had Encarnacion's homer and lots of missed chances.

        “I didn't think we'd ever get a big hit,” Bob Boone said.

        It looked that way in the seventh, when Austin Kearns hit a ball to right-center that was headed for the wall. But Marrero, a catcher by trade, ran it down.

        Russell Branyan followed with a single off the wall in center. That's right — a single. Branyan didn't start running hard until he saw the ball go off the wall.

        “We'll take care of that with a meeting,” Boone said. “That's unacceptable.”

        Branyan's hit ended St. Louis starter Travis Smith's night. The Cardinals brought in right-hander Luther Hackman to face Jason LaRue, who singled.

        That's when Tony LaRussa and Boone started really managing. Reggie Taylor was sent to pinch hit for Dessens. LaRussa countered with left-hander Mike Matthews. Boone then sent up Barry Larkin to hit for Taylor.

Cards second baseman Fernando Vina poses with Lisa Shirley, left, of St. Louis and Brittany Bremer of Springfield, Mo., both wearing "I Love Vina" tops, during photo day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Saturday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        That's when the Cardinals' defense made three major lapses.

        With Larkin at the plate, the runners moved up on Mike Matheny's passed ball. Larkin got LaRue home with a sacrifice fly, knotting the score at 2-2.

        Todd Walker followed with a routine fly ball to left that Pujols simply dropped. LaRue scored, and the Reds had the lead, 3-2.

        Aaron Boone then singled up the middle. Edmonds' throw easily beat Walker to the plate, but Matheny failed to catch it. That padded the Reds' lead at 4-2.

        Scott Sullivan, Gabe White and Danny Graves each pitched an inning to close out the victory. Graves earned his 24th save with a scoreless ninth.

        “To have Gabe and Sully back is nice,” Bob Boone said. “That's something we haven't had in a while. Lark got the sac fly off the bench. Jason (LaRue's) hits. Aaron had a big hit. Encarnacion again. A lot of good things happened.”

        Heck, Dessens even got a win.

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