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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Luis Gonzalez doesn't consider himself a
home-run hitter. But he's more of a slugger than Bobby Bonilla is a
pitcher.
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Another first-homer Card
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ST. LOUIS – Cardinals pitcher Gene Stechschulte became the 82nd player to homer in his first major league at-bat Tuesday night.
Stechschulte, a pitcher being used as a pinch-hitter, hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning off Arizona's Armando Reynoso in St. Louis' 17-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Stechschulte is the third St. Louis player to homer in his first at-bat in the last two seasons. Keith McDonald and Chris Richard did it last year. Before that, the last Cardinal to do it was Wally Moon in 1954.
-- Associated Press
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Gonzalez became the second fastest major league to 10 home runs
and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed Bonilla and the St. Louis
Cardinals 17-4 Tuesday night.
"It wasn't a great situation, or a fun situation for anybody,"
Bonilla said of his first career pitching appearance. "Tony (La
Russa) came by and said 'Bo have you ever pitched before?' I said
'No, but if you need me to do it, I'll do it."'
He didn't do it well _ giving up two runs, three hits, a walk
and a balk in one inning.
It was an odd day overall for the Cardinals, who got half of
their offense on a two-run homer by Gene Stechschulte, a pitcher
making his first career at-bat.
The game was out of reach by the time Bonilla came in as
Gonzalez's two-run homer in the first inning was the first of five
Arizona home runs in the game.
Gonzalez reached 10 homers in Arizona's 14th game _ two games
slower than Mike Schmidt's record in 1976.
"It's kind of weird to hear that," Gonzalez said. "I'm not a
home run hitter. When you think of all the players to play this
game and to do something like that is kind of an oddity."
Gonzalez is leading the majors in home runs and has set a team
record for the most home runs in a single month. He hit a
career-high 31 homers last season.
"I'm a doubles hitter, I'm not a home run hitter," he said.
"I just go up there and make good passes at the ball. Every home
run is a surprise for me, I'm a doubles hitter and I only have two
of those on the season."
Reggie Sanders hit a three-run shot in the third off Dustin
Hermanson (1-1), who had been 5-0 against the Diamondbacks.
Hermanson gave up eight runs and seven hits in 2 1-3 innings.
The Cardinals' bullpen didn't fare much better and manager Tony
La Russa was forced to send Bonilla to the mound for his major
league pitching debut. St. Louis' bullpen was short-staffed because
Dave Veres has an injured right index finger.
With the few remaining fans chanting "Bobby! Bobby!" Bonilla
featured an 84-mph fastball.
His first batter, Eurbiel Durazo, homered. Bonilla then walked
Tony Womack and balked him to second when he failed to come to a
complete stop.
After getting Jay Bell on a flyout, Bonilla gave up an RBI
single to Danny Bautista and a single to Greg Colbrunn before
getting Craig Counsell to hit into an inning-ending double play.
"I'm glad he only gave up two," La Russa said.
David Dellucci hit a three-run homer in the fourth and Bell hit
a two-run shot in the fifth as the Diamondbacks took a 15-1 lead
after five innings.
"We were pleased with everybody's performance tonight,"
Arizona manager Bob Brenly said. "Some of the guys who haven't
been swinging well, got some hits and the guys who have been
swinging well, kept it up."
Armando Reynoso (1-2) allowed three runs and four hits in six
innings.
Stechschulte hit a two-run homer as a pinch-hitter in the sixth
to make the score 15-3. He became the 82nd player to homer in his
first major league at-bat.
Bell had four hits and Matt Williams went 2-for-3 with two runs
and two RBIs for Arizona.
Game notes
Albert Pujols has an 11-game hitting streak (.463,
19-for-41). ... Reliever Jason Christansen has started a rehab
assignment in Triple-A Memphis after offseason arm surgery. ... Ten
of the Cardinals last 12 home runs, and 17 of their 25 for the
season, have been solo shots. ... Veres will not be available for
the next two or three days because he has a sore index finger on
his pitching hand. ... Bell has 12 hits in his last 18 at-bats with
seven RBI. ... Gonzalez's home run snapped an 0-for-8 streak.
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RECAPS
Cleveland 8
Baltimore 1
Detroit 7
Chi. White Sox 4
Toronto 6
NY Yankees 5
Boston 10
Tampa Bay 0
Minnesota 6
Kansas City 5
Oakland 5
Anaheim 1
Seattle 6
Texas 4
Philadelphia 6
Chicago Cubs 3
Cincinnati 3
Milwaukee 2
Houston 0
Pittsburgh 0
NY Mets 4
Montreal 0
Florida 3
Atlanta 2
Arizona 17
St. Louis 4
Colorado 9
San Diego 5
San Francisco 3
Los Angeles 2
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