Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - Jim Edmonds belted two homers, including the game-winning three-run shot in the top of the 13th inning, as the St. Louis Cardinals downed the Boston Red Sox, 8-7, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Fenway Park.

Edmonds ended with three hits and four RBI for St. Louis, while Edgar Renteria went 5-for-6 with two runs scored. The Cardinals blew a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning, but were able to pick up their eighth win in 10 games.

Jason Varitek smacked a two-run homer and Nomar Garciaparra added an RBI triple in Boston's ninth, but the Red Sox lost their second straight. Garciaparra had three hits and two RBI in the loss, while Manny Ramirez went 1-for-2 with five walks.

Kerry Robinson started the Cardinals' 13th with a single to left and Miguel Cairo followed with a sacrifice bunt. Albert Pujols, who was 0-for-5 in the game, was then intentionally walked to set up Edmonds' three-run blast off of Ramiro Mendoza. Edmonds' 17th homer of the season landed in the seats above the Green Monster.

Boston would not go quietly as it scored twice in the bottom of the frame. Ramirez drew a leadoff walk and Kevin Millar followed with a base hit. Trot Nixon then singled to right to drive in Ramirez and make it an 8-6 game. Esteban Yan induced a double play from Bill Mueller, but Millar scored on the play to make it a one-run deficit. Jeremy Giambi and Varitek drew walks, but Johnny Damon flied out to right to end the game.

Yan (2-0) picked up the win despite allowing two runs in his two innings of work. Mendoza (1-3) yielded three runs on three hits and two walks in the loss.

Giambi started Boston's ninth inning by working a walk. Varitek then followed by blasting a 1-1 pitch into the right-field bleachers to cut the score to 3-2. Damon bounced into a groundout at first, but Todd Walker followed with a base hit up the middle. Damian Jackson came in to pinch run and stole second before scoring the tying run on Garciaparra's triple off the wall in center. Ramirez and Millar were both intentionally walked as St. Louis opted to load the bases and bring in Steve Kline. The reliever got Nixon to foul out to first and Mueller popped out to right to end the inning.

The Cardinals regained the lead in the 10th on J.D. Drew's eighth homer of the season. Renteria singled with one out and Drew's blast to right made it a 5-3 game.

However, the Red Sox answered with two runs in the bottom of the 10th to draw even again. Jeff Fassero retired Giambi and Varitek to start the inning. Damon then reached on a bunt single before David Ortiz came in as a pinch-hitter and hit an RBI double off the top of the Green Monster. Freddy Sanchez replaced Ortiz on the basepaths and raced home on Garciaparra's base hit to right. Ramirez and Millar were intentionally walked again and this time Nixon grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

St. Louis nearly scored in the 12th inning, but Scott Rolen was thrown out at the plate to keep the game even. Rolen walked with one out, headed to second on Renteria's infield single and moved to third as part of a double steal. Wilson Delgado then hit a grounder to short and with the infield drawn-in, Garciaparra was able to throw Rolen out at the plate.

The Cardinals opened the scoring with a run in the third frame. Cairo singled with one out, stole second and headed to third on Orlando Palmeiro's bunt single. Cairo then came home when Pujols hit a grounder to shortstop. The Red Sox got the out at second, but Pujols touched first before they could turn the double play.

St. Louis grabbed a 2-0 lead with another run in the fourth. Renteria doubled leading off and raced to third on Eduardo Perez' groundout. Doug Mirabelli was then charged with a passed ball to allow Renteria to score from third.

Edmonds' 16th homer of the season gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning.

St. Louis starter Garrett Stephenson allowed just three hits in seven scoreless innings.