Adron Chambers delivered a bases-loaded triple in a six-run seventh inning as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for an 11-6 victory over the visiting New York Mets on Tuesday to keep pace in the National League wild card race.

The Cardinals remained 2 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves, who beat the Florida Marlins 4-0 on Tuesday. St. Louis has won 11 of its last 13 and has eight games remaining.

Ryan Theriot's two-run ground-rule double gave the Cardinals a 7-6 lead in the seventh. After Yadier Molina was intentionally walked, Chambers, who entered with one hit and one RBI in his career, pulled his triple into the right-field corner.

Lance Berkman continued his hot hitting with two hits, including a two-run single in the fifth, and Albert Pujols went 4-for-5 for his seventh four-hit game of the season. Pujols has reached base in 35 consecutive games.

The Mets (73-81) have lost eight of 10 and will need to win their final eight games to avoid a third consecutive losing season.

The Mets' Jose Reyes went 1-for-4 to keep his average at .331. He is one point behind Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, who went 1-for-5 on Tuesday to lower his league-leading average to .332.