Yadier Molina of St. Louis advances to second base on a wild pitch as Arizona's Stephen Drew applies a late tag in the sixth inning.

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PHOENIX — Adam Wainwright refuses to count St. Louis out of the playoff race. If he had not missed 2 1/2 months, he figures his Cardinals might be a whole lot closer.

Wainwright helped himself by doubling in two runs, and Troy Glaus hit one of St. Louis' three homers Tuesday night in an 8-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Yadier Molina and Felipe Lopez hit back-to-back shots to give Wainwright an early 5-0 lead. That made it seven home runs in two games for the Cardinals against the Diamondbacks.

Arizona has lost seven of nine, dropping its NL West lead to 1 1/2 games over the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat San Diego 8-4.

"Our focus has to continue to be on us and we just have to play better," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.

St. Louis is 5 1/2 back of Milwaukee in the wild card race.

"There's no sports writer, no fan that's telling me we're out of this thing," Wainwright said. "Until the last game of the season, I'm battling like we're going to be ready for the playoffs."

On Monday, the Diamondbacks rallied from four runs down to win 8-6. This time, the deficit reached 8-0, and there was no big comeback.

Wainwright (8-3), in his third start since returning from the disabled list, shut out the Diamondbacks through five before giving up a run in the sixth. He struck out seven and walked two, yielding three hits in 5 1/3 innings.

He was bothered by back spasms in the hotel before the game, and needed some therapy from trainers before taking the mound. He said his back stiffened again when he ran the bases in the top of the fifth, leading to his exit soon thereafter.

But Wainwright said making his start was never a question.

"I do this several times a year, so I knew I could get through it," he said. "It kind of works in my favor, because there is no way I can pop out of my pitches too early. I made sure I stayed through my delivery the whole time."

Wainwright returned 10 days ago. He is 2-0 in three starts.

Five Cardinals relievers, including Chris Carpenter, finished the seven-hitter.

Yusmeiro Petit (3-4) gave up five runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings, the fourth straight Arizona starting pitcher to have a rough outing.

"Sometimes it's contagious," Melvin said. "The next guy tries doubly hard to give you a good, solid outing. It certainly isn't characteristic of our staff."

Glaus, 2 for 13 through four games of a six-game road trip, was moved to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, just ahead of Albert Pujols.

"I've done it a few times in the past," Glaus said. "I enjoy it. I mean, it's always nice when you've got Albert hitting behind you."

It worked. Glaus singled in the first, then lined Petit's 2-1 pitch into the left field stands. His 22nd home run put St. Louis up 2-0 in the third.

The Cardinals added three in the fourth on consecutive homers by Molina and Lopez.