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CHICAGO -- The St. Louis Cardinals are headed home to make one last try for a sixth consecutive playoff appearance.Carlos Martinez pitched six solid innings, but St. Louis was shut down by Jon Lester in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night.The Cardinals lost for the third time in four games, wasting a chance to improve their playoff positioning. They remain a half-game back of San Francisco for the second NL wild card after the Giants lost 4-3 at San Diego earlier in the day.I think were in a good position right now, Martinez said through a translator. I also think we have a great shot at winning the World Series.The Cardinals dropped two of three against the major league-leading Cubs, finishing a 5-5 road trip. Next up is a season-ending seven-game homestand against last-place Cincinnati and Pittsburgh beginning on Monday night against the Reds.St. Louis rolled to a 10-4 victory on Saturday, but it scored just two runs in its three losses during its mini-slide.Were going to have to mix and match and make something happen, manager Mike Matheny said.David Ross homered and Ben Zobrist had three hits as Chicago finished with a major league-best 57-24 home record. Its the most home wins for the Cubs since they went 58-19 at the West Side Grounds in 1910.Lester (19-4), one of the top candidates for the NL Cy Young Award, struck out seven in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. The left-hander allowed three hits and walked one while improving to 10-0 with 1.34 ERA in his last 13 starts.Hes done that most of the season, Matheny said. We took a few good at-bats, but overall we couldnt string them together. Once again, that big hit, we were missing.Ross, who plans to retire after the season, was greeted with a long standing ovation when he came to the plate in the second inning. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina walked halfway to the mound, forcing the unassuming Ross to take in the moment, and he took off his batting helmet to acknowledge the cheering crowd.Ross then struck out, but he got another chance in the fifth and drove Martinezs second pitch over the wall in left for 1-0 lead. Ross clapped his hands as he rounded first on his 10th homer and the cheers continued after he reached the dugout, prompting a curtain call.It was just fitting that David would hit a home run, isnt it? Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. I mean it had to have happened tonight.The Cardinals pulled within one on Jhonny Peraltas two-out RBI single in the eighth, but Brandon Moss flied to center with runners on the corners. Willson Contreras responded with an RBI single in the bottom half and Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his 16th save with the NL Central champions and No. 36 on the year.Martinez (15-9), pitching with a heavy heart after the death of Miami pitcher Jose Fernandez in a boating accident, allowed two runs and six hits. He struck out six and walked four.He had lots of juice, Matheny said. Its probably the hardest sinker Ive ever seen him throw. A couple of those were 97 (mph). He was locked in. He wanted it bad today, and he was good enough for us to win.RESTING AND MOURNINGSt. Louis shortstop Aledmys Diaz, who is dealing with some arm fatigue, got the day off. Diaz also was a childhood friend of Fernandez.Matheny said he would have scratched Diaz had he been in the lineup. Diaz declined an interview request through a team spokeswoman.Hes pretty stoic. You see how he goes about his business, Matheny said. Thats kind of how hes handling this right now. He was a close, close friend, so hes trying to figure out how to mourn for his friend right now and take all the information in. None of that is easy.UP NEXTCardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (10-12, 4.59 ERA) faces Cincinnati RHP Tim Adleman (2-4, 4.06 ERA) on Monday night.Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06 ERA) pitches for Chicago in the opener of a four-game series at Pittsburgh. RHP Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73 ERA) gets the ball for the Pirates on Monday night.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Authentic Running Shoes Canada . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Cheap Running Shoes Canada Online . 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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Peyton Manning finally found some time in retirement to get together with little brother Eli.Peyton showed up at the Giants walk-through workout Tuesday and discussed football, sat through part of a quarterbacks meeting and talked about playing against the Steelers, New Yorks opponent this weekend in Pittsburgh.Eli Manning was unaware his brother was going to show up at the teams facility, but he noted it was nice to see him.The Giants (8-3) have won six straight games -- their longest streak since 2008 -- and have a great chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.It was good to have him here, Eli Manning said. I hadnt seen him in a while. He has something to do tomorrow, so he popped in and sat in on a few meetings with us today. Just good to catch up. Ill get some time with him later on.Peyton Manning, dressed in pajamas, did a commercial before the season for DirecTV in which he had a hard time seeing Eli because his younger brother was playing on the days he wanted to meet.Eli Manning said Peyton seems to be adjusting to life after football, adding that he is staying busy and enjoying his down time.However, the longtime Giants quarterback said its obvious his brother enjoys being around football.I think when he gets in this environment, he was kind of drilling the coaches on questions, Manning said. I know he liked being in there and doing a little install on Pittsburgh. Im sure he misses that environment, just the game plan, how youre going to do things, how youre going to deal with protections, how youre going to pick things up, just really getting back into that flow of things. Im sure it is a little reminder of how special it is to be in this situation.Manning said his brother will watch his games and send him text messages afterward, telling him he made a good throw on some play or asking questions about certain plays or what the offense was running.Thats kind of always been the case, Manning said, adding the two have always tried to watch each other play. Its good communication about what is going on.The Giants offense can use some help. It has scored 231 points this season, which is 21st inn the league.ddddddddddddThere has been no consistency.Were just a few plays away, Manning said. You score 21, its not like we scored 10. Were just not getting down in the red zone enough. Thats the deal.The Giants tried to switch things up last week and go with the deep ball. Manning threw six long passes against the Cleveland Browns in a 27-13 win, but he hit only one.Stepping up this week will be important when facing Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers (6-5), winners of two straight.We have our expectations of what we want to do and how we want to score, Manning said. We feel we can score. Weve been good the last few weeks protecting the ball, thats number one. Its not about forcing things trying to score. We have to execute well, play smart and make the plays that are there.The Giants have made enough plays to get back in the playoff hunt this season with five games to go. In the last three seasons, New York has had little to play for down the home stretch.You can get spoiled early in your career when four years in a row you make the playoffs, Manning said. You assume that is kind of the norm. You play long enough you realize it isnt. It is special to be in contention to make the playoffs, and especially after the last couple being out early.Game notes The Giants placed RB Orleans Darkwa on injured reserve with a leg injury. LB-S Eric Pinkins was signed off the practice squad to take his spot on the roster. ... G Brett Jones, who injured a calf in a start against Cincinnati on Nov. 14, hopes to return to practice Wednesday. ... Starting LG Justin Pugh had a setback last week trying to return from a strained knee and seemingly will be out a little longer. ... Manning said he apologized to rookie WR Sterling Shepard for not targeting him in last weeks game. ... PK Robbie Gould took the blame for missing his third PAT in the past two games. I just missed it. You cant have that, especially when you are trying to make the playoffs.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '