The Cincinnati Reds were gaining ground in the National League wild-card race until they hit speed bumps on their just-concluded road trip.

Cincinnati went 3-6 and lost six times in the final seven games, including all three during their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers to begin the week. The Reds will try to regain traction as they return home to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday in the opener of a three-game set.

Cincinnati sits four games back of the New York Mets for the final NL wild-card slot.

"I just told our guys we can choose to make the next five weeks like the best five baseball weeks of our life," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "But we're going to have to remember everything we've talked about from Day 1 and learn from things that happen and then move on. And h

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