"The Cincinnati Reds entered this week's three-game series against the Cardinals playing the role of the resurrected, a team missing from the postseason since 1995 suddenly flexing unexpected muscle within the National League Central.

Tuesday night at Busch Stadium the Cardinals tried to steal their lines, rallying first from an early three-run deficit, then escaping a 7-3 hole with a fourth-inning run and a sixth-inning eruption aided by some dicey infield defense.

The script, however, fell incomplete.

After fumbling two large leads, the Reds rallied for two seventh-inning runs against relievers Dennys Reyes and Blake Hawksworth to take a 9-8 decision before a crowd of 37,414.

If the Reds indeed have new life, their third baseman embodies their cause.

Long before left fielder Jonny Gomes tied the game with a seventh-inning single off Reyes and center fielder Drew Stubbs followed with a game-winning sacrifice fly off Hawksworth, Scott Rolen pushed the Reds to leads of 3-0 and 5-3 with home runs in his first two plate appearances.

Rolen, the Redbirds' third baseman from June 2002 to September 2007, produced a three-run home run off rookie starter P.J. Walters in the first inning and followed Joey Votto's two-out blast with another in the third.

"Things," as Rolen had said before the game, "are going pretty well."

The Reds (31-22) have won five of seven games and 17 of their last 24. They have scored at least eight runs in four of their last six games and lead the National League in runs scored. Rolen added a double against Walters after hitting his first home run on a misplaced curveball and the second on a fastball..

"I think we're a good team," said Rolen. "I believe that the 162 (games) tells you how good we really are."