ESPN.com St. Louis/Arizona recap

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Sunday, Apr. 8 4:35pm ET
Ankiel in control in first start of season

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

PHOENIX (AP) – Rick Ankiel was no wild man on Sunday. Wonderful was more like it.

The 21-year-old left-hander, whose postseason control problems put his future in question, pitched five effective innings in his 2001 debut as the St. Louis Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of Arizona, 9-4.

	Rob Dibble's Take
	As a former pitcher, I know the last thing a pitcher wants to worry about is whether or not he has command of the strike zone. Following a solid outing Sunday, Rick Ankiel was swarmed with high-fives and hugs from his teammates. The Cardinals would love for Rick's control problem to go away, but what I saw was more relief than anything else. Dibble's complete analysis

Ankiel allowed two runs on three hits, struck out eight and walked three in five-plus innings. He did not throw anything close to a wild pitch.

"It's what we saw last year," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "It's not just his talent. He's just got so much guts. It was a huge game for us and for him."

Ankiel wouldn't talk to reporters afterward.

"I just don't think it's in his best interest to talk about what's going on," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "It would serve no useful purpose for him, so we'll talk for him."

In a remarkable role reversal, Ankiel (1-0) displayed control and poise, while Randy Johnson struggled in the Diamondbacks' fourth loss in a row.

The NL Cy Young award winner the last two seasons was pounded for nine runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings, including home runs by Mike Matheny, Eli Marrero and Edgar Renteria.

"I've pitched a lot of ballgames in my career, and I've had a lot of losses in my career," Johnson said. "A game like this will stick with you a little while. It's not like losing 2-1 and knowing that you pitched a good ball game and gave your team an opportunity to win.

"I pitched real bad and put us in an uphill battle the whole game."


	Edgar Renteria (3) iscongratulated by Rick Ankiel, left, and Eli Marrero after hitting a three-run home run off Randy Johnson in the sixth inning.

The nine runs were the most allowed by Johnson since he gave up 10 in 2 1/3 innings for Seattle at Toronto on April 10, 1994.

Johnson (1-1) struck out four, walked two and hit two batters.

Mike Timlin relieved with the bases loaded in the Arizona ninth and got one out for his first save.

The light-hitting Marrero, at first base in place of Mark McGwire, was 3-for-3 and scored three runs against Johnson.

Ankiel, who threw nine wild pitches in four postseason innings and then showed inconsistent control this spring, routinely hit 93 mph with his fastball, and his curve baffled the Diamondbacks.

"He was able to drop that curveball in there almost at will after the second inning," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "We tried to be patient but he showed us he was going to throw strikes."

Ankiel survived a shaky start to retire 11 in a row, six by strikeout. He fanned the side in the fifth before leaving the game after walking Luis Gonzalez to lead off the sixth.

"I hope he feels half as good as everybody else in here," catcher Mike Matheny said. "We're all pulling for each other, every single guy. That's what makes this team special. That chemistry we had last year, we were wondering if we were going to have it this year. It's showing signs that we do."

Matt Williams hit a two-run homer in the first for the only runs off Ankiel. Rod Barajas, in his first start of the season, hit a solo homer in the sixth off reliever Gene Stechschulte.

Ankiel threw 100 pitches, 63 of them strikes. In the second, he walked Barajas and Johnson to load the bases with one out, then struck out Tony Womack and Reggie Sanders.

"Today's a real positive for him," Duncan said. "I'm sure it's good for his confidence to go out there and really contribute to the team. This kid's a tough kid. He's got a lot of character. He cares about the team as much, if not more, than he does himself. Today's a good example of what his makeup is, what's inside of him. He's a good kid."

Johnson allowed home runs on consecutive pitches to Matheny and Marrero to lead off the Cardinals' four-run third inning. Johnson hit Fernando Vina, then gave up a two-out single to Placido Polanco.

Rookie Albert Pujols, St. Louis' hitting star in the sweep, doubled to deep center on a 3-2 pitch to drive in both runs and make it 4-2.

The Cardinals added two more in the fourth after J.D. Drew was hit by a pitch and Marrero singled. The runners advanced on Ankiel's sacrifice bunt, then scored on Vina's single.

Renteria ended Johnson's long afternoon with a two-out, three-run homer in the sixth.

Game notes
After missing four games with a sore right knee, McGwire is scheduled to start in the team's home opener Monday night against Colorado. ... Arizona placed RHP Bobby Witt on the disabled list and activated Sanders, who was in the lineup in right field Sunday. Witt injured his elbow Saturday in his first start of the season, and an MRI is scheduled for Monday. ... St. Louis had 29 runs and 42 hits in the sweep.