Martinez's arm, bat help Cardinals to 5-3 win over Rockies (Yahoo Sports)

Carlos Martinez threw five effective innings and added a two-run double, helping the St. Louis Cardinals gain ground in the NL playoff race with a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. The Cardinals moved within one game of wild card-leading New York after the Mets lost to Atlanta. Martinez, who turns 25 on Wednesday, gave himself an early birthday present by holding Colorado to two runs while striking out six.