Cardinals are smmmmokin' hot!

MILWAUKEE -- In one corner of Miller Park, there was Milwaukee Brewers MVP Prince Fielder looking pensive as he fielded questions about his pending three-game suspension.

In another corner, there were a couple of St. Louis veterans doubled over with laughter in the visitors clubhouse enjoying the pregame wardrobe of one of their cohorts, one that featured shorts short enough to make a Nair girl blush.

Back on Milwaukee's side there was low-key Brewers manager Ned Yost getting into it with a beat writer over Yost's decision to allow Chris Capuano to make at least 1 more start despite the fact Milwaukee has lost 15 straight games started by the veteran lefty.

Meanwhile, with smooth jazz playing in the background, Tony LaRussa, the often-curt manager of the Cardinals, seemed on the precipice of relaxation as he took questions in his office in what was nevertheless a stilted session featuring more awkward silences than a high school breakup.

"We've had some good things happen," LaRussa admitted. "We just have to go out there and keep on going."

These are good times for the Cardinals, especially after finishing off a sweep of the Brewers in Milwaukee on Thursday to move to within 2½ games of first place in the National League Central.

Meanwhile, things are getting a little tight around the collar for the leg-weary Brewers and Cubs.

The young Brewers (4-10 this month) seem to be feeling the heat of their first serious playoff run in decades, while the Cubs (5-10) have had every opportunity to close the gap, but have been just as inept. They did, however, gain a game Thursday with a 12-4 win over the Reds.

What has fans of both clubs on edge is that the team that just weeks ago seemed an afterthought in the race -- the defending World Series champion Cardinals, who were 10½ back on June 30 -- is now circling four-wide preparing to close with a rush down the stretch.

And they're enjoying the heck out of it.

"We are a very confident club and we know if we can keep playing consistent, we believe we've got a good chance," said St. Louis shortstop and sparkplug David Eckstein. "As long as you still have games left and you're not mathematically eliminated, you believe you still have a chance.

"There's a long way to go, though. We're not even at .500. (58-60) We understand that we have two clubs ahead of us that have played better ball than we have. But we have to keep fighting like each day is our last and go out there and find a way to get wins."

That's exactly what they did a year ago, scuffling to an 83-win regular season and eventually defeating Detroit in the World Series.

They'd love an encore.

"When you win one, you're thirsting for another one," Eckstein said. "But it's tough after a World Series championship. You've got everyone gunning for you, plus with the hits we've taken (like the death of pitcher Josh Hancock) ... it's very difficult. You just don't know. That's why you go out and play every game hard."

And though they're teetering, the Brewers are still in first place and still putting on a brave face.

"Is there pressure with the Cardinals now? No," said Craig Counsell, one of the few elder statesman on the team. "Pressure is what you put on yourself. Everybody knows they're good.

"When you're in first you have to take care of business. That's the good thing about being first."

Echoed Yost: "I have a lot of confidence in every single one of my players and what they're capable of accomplishing and I have a lot of confidence in what they're going to accomplish."

But the fact is postseason play seems to be part of the Cardinals' DNA. They've made it to the playoffs in six of the last seven years -- and if they make it seven of eight this year, it will be because of one factor. And no, it's not the rejuvenated bat of slugger Albert Pujols or the hot play of recent call-up Rick Ankiel.

"Just look at our starting pitching," Eckstein said. "They've done a fantastic job.

"Wherever you go it comes down to pitching. It doesn't matter how good of an offense you have, you have to have good pitching to be able to compete."

That's exactly what St. Louis has had of late. With Adam Wainwright throwing 7 innings of scoreless ball Thursday, Cardinals starters have now allowed just 6 earned runs in their last 62 innings (0.87 ERA).

"Nobody's quit," LaRussa said. "(Pitching coach Dave) Duncan hasn't quit coaching, the pitchers haven't quit working, and right now they're having some success, they're feeling more confident.

"Same things with the bats. That hasn't always been true. We just have to keep it going in a positive direction where everybody's feeling confident about their game."

Good timing, considering the finish line is quickly approaching.

"It's a funny game," Eckstein said. "We were as cold as ice last year, but we were fortunate enough to hold on the final day.

"The way things are unfolding right now, you just don't know. A team gets hot and that's all it really takes. We've hung around long enough to hopefully be the team that gets up in time."