|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
PITTSBURGH (AP) – An impressive turnaround got even better for
the first-place St. Louis Cardinals. What seems to be another lost
season for the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates got even worse – and
that was before they lost again.
|  | | The Cardinals' Albert Pujols takes a home-run trot after his third-inning solo shot Tuesday. |
Albert Pujols hit a go-ahead homer and Bobby Bonilla, still
booed in Pittsburgh 10 years after leaving the Pirates, added a
three-run homer as the St. Louis Cardinals won 8-3 Tuesday night.
St. Louis, which has won eight straight games overall and nine
in a row over the Pirates, has taken over the NL Central lead by
winning 10 of 12.
"We had a tough first month, but this is a good team," Bonilla
said. "And I emphasize the word team. We have good depth and a lot
of guys who can do a lot of things."
Even better, they have a schedule that matches them against the
slumping Pirates seven times in 11 days.
Dustin Hermanson (4-1) pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out
jam in the sixth with St. Louis leading 3-2 before the Cardinals
put away their sixth consecutive victory in Pittsburgh with a
four-run seventh inning keyed by Bonilla's homer.
Hermanson lasted seven innings in improving to 6-2 against
Pittsburgh, allowing two runs and eight hits. The Pirates loaded
the bases in the sixth and were in position to go ahead, but
Hermanson got Pat Meares on a short fly ball to right as the
runners held before striking out pinch-hitter Abraham Nunez.
The Cardinals didn't lose any momentum despite taking a day off
following a 7-0 homestand against the Pirates and Cubs.
"That last homestand was amazing, we went from fifth to
first," Hermanson said. "We needed a push and the streak has
given it to us. It's everything right now. It's not like it's one
area that's carrying us."
Even if Pujols seems to be doing exactly that. His 14th homer,
and his third in as many games, led off the third inning and put
St. Louis up 3-2.
"The whole streak has been a lot like tonight," manager Tony
La Russa said. "We've been pitching tough and holding the other
team down. We have a bunch of guys up and down the line swinging
well."
Their eighth loss in nine games finished off an already bad day
for the Pirates, whose 13-25 record is the NL's worst and
represents their worst start since they were 12-25 during their
104-loss season in 1985.
Right-hander Kris Benson, projected as their No. 1 starter, cut
short a bullpen throwing session because of elbow pain and moved
closer to possible season-ending surgery. Also, center fielder
Adrian Brown, their leadoff hitter who hasn't played this season,
will undergo surgery to repair a shoulder tear and could miss most
or all the rest of the season.
"It's been tough, but I've tried to impress on our guys we
can't use these (injuries) for an excuse," rookie manager Lloyd
McClendon said. "We've got to move on and, until we can do that,
we're not going to be good."
The Cardinals also got a scare when second baseman Fernando Vina
bruised his left ankle when struck by an Omar Olivares pitch in the
second inning and was helped off the field. He was taken to a
nearby hospital for precautionary X-rays, which were negative.
"He got blasted," La Russa said. "I can't believe he'll play
tomorrow but, knowing him, it will be soon afterward."
Vina tripled to start the game and scored on Placido Polanco's
groundout. Ray Lankford doubled to start the second against
Olivares (2-4), who took the loss despite striking out a career
high 10 in six innings, and scored on Hermanson's single to make it
2-0.
Craig Paquette, Vina's replacement, had two doubles -- one to
start the four-run seventh that included Jim Edmonds' RBI double
and Bonilla's three-run homer, both off reliever Scott Sauerbeck.
Bonilla left the Pirates after the 1991 season but, like former
teammate Barry Bonds, still is booed in Pittsburgh by fans who
remember the pair's postseason failures in 1990-92.
"But this is nothing. Wait until we get to New York," said
Bonilla, a former Mets player.
Game notes
The Pirates activated C Keith Osik off the disabled list
and returned 2B Warren Morris to Triple-A Nashville. Morris was
hitless in his final 15 at-bats. ... Derek Bell, batting only .100
at PNC Park, was a late scratch due to a strained neck. He was
replaced by Emil Brown, who was 2-for-3 and reached base three
times. ... The Cardinals have won 12 of 13 from the Pirates. ...
The earliest Adrian Brown can return is Sept. 1.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
| |
OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 11
Detroit 3
Kansas City 6
Tampa Bay 2
Boston 5
Minnesota 2
Cleveland 8
Texas 6
Toronto 9
Anaheim 3
Oakland 3
NY Yankees 2
Seattle 4
Chi. White Sox 3
Arizona 5
Cincinnati 1
San Francisco 7
Florida 4
Montreal 2
Los Angeles 0
Milwaukee 14
Philadelphia 10
St. Louis 8
Pittsburgh 3
NY Mets 1
San Diego 0
Atlanta 5
Colorado 3
Houston 9
Chicago Cubs 7
|
