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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Colorado broke up Dustin Hermanson's no-hit
bid, then ended a five-game losing streak.
|  | | Dustin Hermanson did not allow a hit until giving up Larry Walker's homer in the seventh on Thursday. |
Pinch-hitter Mark Little's tiebreaking two-run single in the
ninth inning gave the Rockies a 6-4 victory Thursday, their first
win since sweeping the Cardinals in their season-opening three-game
series.
"Obviously, it was a big hit for us," manager Buddy Bell said.
"But I'm really happy for Mark as well. I had confidence Mark was
going to put the ball in play."
Little, 2-for-5 as a pinch hitter, is from nearby Edwardsville,
Ill., and spent time in the Cardinals' organization. He left more
than 20 tickets for family and friends each game.
"I'll bet my family's pretty excited," Little said. "I'm just
glad I could get in and contribute and I'm glad they could see me
play."
Hermanson didn't allow a hit until Larry Walker's one-out,
two-run homer in the seventh. Hermanson said he hadn't been aware
of the no-hit bid.
"When Walker hit the home run, everybody started cheering and I
thought, what's everybody cheering for?" Hermanson said. "Then I
looked up and I hadn't even realized it. "I'm not looking for
that, anyway."
Todd Helton homered two pitches later to give the Rockies a 3-2
lead. Edmonds put the Cardinals back ahead with a two-run single in
the bottom half.
Colorado tied the score on Mike Timlin's wild pitch in the
ninth.
Steve Kline (0-1), appearing for the sixth straight game and the
seventh time in nine games this season didn't get a batter out and
allowed three runs. Coming in, he hadn't allowed a run in seven
innings.
"That's just not the way you picture it at home," Kline said.
"I just have to put this game aside."
Kline hit Walker leading off the ninth, and Todd Helton singled
and took second on center fielder Jim Edmonds' late throw to third.
Jeff Cirillo was walked intentionally to load the bases and
Timlin threw a wild pitch with an 0-1 count against pinch-hitter
Ron Gant. Little followed with a two-run single up the middle.
John Wasdin (1-0) got two outs in the eighth and Jose Jimenez
finished for his second save.
Mike Hampton, who hasn't won in two starts since beating the
Cardinals in the opener on April 2, gave up four runs and eight
hits in seven innings. His ERA rose to 4.43.
J.D. Drew and rookie Albert Pujols, who leads the Cardinals with
11 RBI, homered for St. Louis. Hampton had pitched 27 consecutive
scoreless innings against the Cardinals before Drew's fourth-inning
drive.
Hampton had last allowed a run to St. Louis on Sept. 2, 1999. He
blanked the Cardinals for 16 innings in the NL championship series
for the Mets and 8 1/3 more on opening day.
"I guess every game's new and you wipe the slate clean,"
Hampton said. "They were tough today."
Edmonds didn't start for the second straight game because of
tightness in his groin, but entered as a defensive substitute in
center field in the seventh.
Walker's homer, an opposite-field drive, was his fifth of the
season. Helton, the NL batting champion, had been 0-for-9 in the
series and hitting just .188 this season before his home run.
Game notes
Walker and Helton had reached safely in 11 straight plate
appearances against Hermanson before Walker grounded out to second
for the final out of the first. Helton grounded out starting the
second. ... Mark McGwire, who probably won't play in day games
after night games following offseason knee surgery, got the day off
after hitting his first homer on Wednesday. ... Hampton has allowed
three homers in his first three starts after giving up 10 all last
season. ... Drew hit his first homer off a left-handed pitcher
since Sept. 18, 1999, when he also connected against Hampton when
the pitcher was with Houston. Of Drew's 38 career homers, only
eight have come against lefties.
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RECAPS
Seattle 7
Oakland 3
Boston 8
Baltimore 2
Cleveland 5
Detroit 3
Kansas City 0
Toronto 0
Anaheim 13
Texas 3
Colorado 6
St. Louis 4
Milwaukee 12
Houston 4
San Diego 8
San Francisco 3
Cincinnati 11
Pittsburgh 6
NY Mets 1
Atlanta 0
Los Angeles 5
Arizona 4
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