out in the wild

Lance Lynn was at it again for St. Louis on Wednesday night. The former Ole Miss star, making his second spot start since being taken from the rotation, threw 6 1/3 shutout innings against Houston as the Cardinals won 5-0 and strengthened their grip on the National League’s No. 2 wild card berth. Lynn, who has 16 victories, has won both of his starts in place of Jake Westbrook and has allowed only one run in 12 1/3 innings in that span. Whether Lynn will stay in the rotation remains uncertain. … Philadelphia is hanging around, 4 games behind St. Louis, thanks in no small part to Jonathan Papelbon. The ex-Mississippi State standout notched his 36th save on Wednesday. Over his last 10 appearances, Papelbon has allowed just one earned run while recording six saves and two victories. … In the American League, Oakland currently holds the No. 2 wild card spot (a half-game behind Baltimore) despite a three-game losing streak. The A’s could use some more thump from Ole Miss alum Seth Smith, who is homerless in his last 10 games and batting just .211 over that period. … Tampa Bay’s hopes are fading. The Rays have lost seven of 10 and are 5½ games back of Oakland. Desmond Jennings, the Itawamba Community College product, went 2-for-5 with a triple, two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base in a 13-3 win over Boston on Wednesday. Where has that been all year, Rays fans must be wondering. P.S. Ex-Ole Miss standout Zack Cozart, out of the Cincinnati lineup since Sept. 3 because of an oblique injury, might return this weekend when the Red host Los Angeles. The rookie shortstop is hitting .243 with 13 bombs. Cincy has virtually locked up the NL Central and is battling Washington for the league’s best record.