Adron Chambers scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals kept their playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 walk-off victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Ryan Theriot’s walk forced in the tying run for the Cardinals, who moved within two games of the Atlanta Braves in the National League wild card race. The Braves dropped a 4-1 decision to the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

Carlos Marmol (2-6) came on to close it for the Cubs with a 1-0 lead in the ninth. The righthander got the first out, but yielded a single to Matt Holliday.

Tyler Greene came on as a pinch runner and stole second, taking third when Geovany Soto’s throw sailed into center field. Marmol struck out David Freese for the second out but then lost the strike zone, walking Yadier Molina and Skip Schumaker to load the bases. He then forced in the tying run with his third straight walk.

An errant slider ended it, getting past Soto to the backstop and allowing pinch-runner Chambers to score easily.

Marmol’s breakdown wasted a great effort by Rodrigo Lopez, who allowed just four hits in six scoreless innings.

Jason Motte (5-2) was credited with the win.