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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PHOENIX (AP) – Add Albert Pujols to the already impressive list
of sluggers for the St. Louis Cardinals.
|  | | Jay Bell can't handle the throw as Fernando Vina, who went 2-for-6, steals second. |
The 21-year-old rookie, who has just one season of minor league
experience, had a two-run double in the first inning and a two-out,
RBI single in the sixth as the Cardinals beat the Arizona
Diamondbacks 8-4 on Saturday.
The previous night, Pujols was 3-for-5 with a home run and a
double in St. Louis' 12-9 victory.
Not bad for a player who could be sent down to Triple-A when
Bobby Bonilla is activated next week.
"It doesn't surprise me at all what I'm doing right now,
because I worked very hard for this," said Pujols, who understands
he might be Memphis-bound. "Whatever decision they make, I think
it's going to be the best for me."
J.D. Drew hit a two-run home run and an RBI sacrifice fly as St.
Louis won despite the absence of Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds from
the lineup for the third game in a row.
"The way we bounced back after that fiasco in Colorado, that's
a good sign for us," manager Tony La Russa said. "I like it when
McGwire and Edmonds are in the lineup, but I like to win games when
you use everybody on the roster. They feel like they're
contributing. That gets their season going. We got big hits from
everybody up and down the lineup really."
For the second consecutive night, the Cardinals' depth was on full
display.
"I think Tony has a tough decision everyday when he comes to
the ballpark on who he wants to play," Drew said.
The Cardinals, swept at Colorado to open the season, go for a
three-game sweep of Arizona on Sunday with Rick Ankiel on the mound
against the Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson.
Luis Gonzalez hit his NL-leading fifth home run of the season, a
three-run shot that cut St. Louis' lead to 5-4 in the fifth.
The Cardinals came back with three runs in the sixth, two on a
two-out single by Mike Matheny.
Arizona has lost three in a row and has given up 27 runs in the
process. Mark Grace struck out on a checked-swing in the ninth and
was ejected, along with Arizona manager Bob Brenly, by third base
umpire Greg Gibson.
Brenly said he was upset by the call and by the fact Gibson
seemed to watch Grace all through the dugout waiting for him to say
something.
Grace, never one to mince words, called the ejection
"ridiculous."
"I didn't say anything worth getting run for," Grace said. "I
guess he's got a chip on his shoulder. He needs to be around a
little longer before he gets a chip on his shoulder."
Grace said he doesn't even know Gibson.
"I know the other three guys in the crew are tremendous
umpires, and it would probable behoove him to have a little talk
with those three on how to conduct himself," Grace said.
Kile (1-1) allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings. He
struck out two and walked three.
While McGwire didn't play at all, Edmonds pinch hit for Kile in
the seventh and struck out.
Byung-Hyun Kim set a Diamondbacks record for a reliever by
striking out six in two innings. In three innings this season, the
Korean sidearmer has allowed no hits, struck out nine and walked
four.
Bobby Witt, 36, who made the Arizona starting rotation this
spring in place of injured Todd Stottlemyre, left the game with an
elbow injury with two outs in the fifth. An MRI was scheduled for
Monday.
Witt (0-1) allowed five runs on seven hits, walked five, struck
out three and hit a batter.
Russ Springer, pitching for the third consecutive day, relieved
Witt and gave up three runs on four hits in 1 1-3 innings. Springer
also had a wild pitch that allowed runners to advance to second and
third with two outs in sixth. Both runners scored on Matheny's
single.
Placido Polanco was 2-for-3 and scored three runs for St.
Louis.
Game notes
Johnson was presented the 2000 Cy Young award before the
game by Diamondbacks managing general partner Jerry Colangelo. ...
La Russa said McGwire won't be in the lineup Sunday but will start
in the Cardinals home opener Monday against Colorado. ... Arizona
leadoff hitter Tony Womack, criticized for not drawing enough walks
in the past, led off the last two games with walks.
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Hurting Cardinals: McGwire, Edmonds still sidelined
RECAPS
Baltimore 4
Cleveland 2
Toronto 3
NY Yankees 2
Detroit 5
Chi. White Sox 3
Kansas City 5
Minnesota 3
Oakland 4
Anaheim 2
Boston 6
Tampa Bay 2
Seattle 6
Texas 5
Chicago Cubs 8
Philadelphia 4
Milwaukee 6
Cincinnati 1
Montreal 10
NY Mets 0
Pittsburgh 5
Houston 3
San Diego 14
Colorado 10
St. Louis 8
Arizona 4
Florida 8
Atlanta 0
Los Angeles 10
San Francisco 4
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