Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong, left, forces out the St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt at second in the sixth inning Thursday in Milwaukee. (AP photo)

MILWAUKEE — Paul Goldschmidt homered twice, and the St. Louis Cardinals overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 Thursday and extend their longest winning streak in 39 years to 12 games.

On a day Adam Wainwright faltered early, St. Louis trailed 5-0 before rallying with one run in the fifth, four in the seventh, two in the eighth and one in the ninth.

The Cardinals moved five games ahead of Cincinnati and Philadelphia, who both played later Thursday, for the second NL wild card.

“It was a great team win,” Wainwright said. “I put us in a hole, and they came back and won that game.”

Milwaukee has lost five in a row since clinching its fourth consecutive playoff berth on Sept. 18, including four defeats to the Cardinals.

Yadier Molina started the comeback with an RBI single in the fifth off Adrian Houser.

St. Louis loaded the bases with one out in the seventh against Jake Cousins, and Tommy Edman hit an RBI grounder off Brad Boxberger, whose throwing error on a pickoff attempt brought in another run. Goldschmidt tied the score with a two-run homer.

Nolan Arenada walked against Aaron Ashby (3-1) leading off the eighth and scored on Manny Pina’s passed ball for a 6-5 lead.

Tyrone Taylor hit a grand slam in the first inning and a solo shot in the fourth for the Brewers.