Braun’s grand slam lifts Brewers over Cardinals

Ryan Braun still stands out at opportune times for the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I’m not as good as I was,” the 35-year-old said. “But in big moments, I’m the guy still.”

Braun hit a go-ahead grand slam off Junior Fernández with two outs in the ninth inning, and the visiting Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 Sunday to keep up their playoff push by winning for the ninth time in 10 games.

Milwaukee remained one game behind the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild card and closed within three games of the Central-leading Cardinals.

With the Cardinals ahead 4-3, Jon Gant (10-1) walked Ben Gamel and Travis Shaw starting the ninth, struck out Trent Grisham and walked Yasmani Grandal. Tyler Webb retired Mike Moustakas on a flyout not deep enough to score a run, Fernández relieved and Braun drove a hanging slider to leftcenter for his seventh career slam and a 7-4 lead.

“We had one bullet left,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “Absolutely incredible.” CUBS’ RIZZO SPRAINS ANKLE >> Chicago Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo left Sunday’s 16-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning with a sprained right ankle. X-rays taken at Wrigley Field showed no broken bones. Rizzo was injured fielding a bunt at first base.

RAYS FALL TO ANGELS >> Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer off Ryan Yarbrough (11-4) in the fifth inning and drove in four runs in Anaheim, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead over Cleveland for the second AL wild card to 1½ games. The Angels’ Mike Trout will have foot surgery and miss the rest of the season. CULBERSON HIT IN FACE >> Atlanta’s Charlie Culberson sustained multiple facial fractures Saturday when he was hit by a 91 mph pitch from Washington’s Fernando Rodney. Culberson was released from a hospital.