Recap: Cincinnati vs. St. Louis
Sports Network | August 16, 2008
Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Albert Pujols hit two of St. Louis' four home runs and finished with three hits, as the Cardinals pounded Cincinnati, 9-3, in the second of three games with the Reds.
Joel Pineiro (6-5) had a solid start, as he allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings. He also walked none and struck out six en route to winning his third consecutive start.
Skip Schumaker added a three-run homer as part of a two-hit game, while Ryan Ludwick had a two-run shot for the Cardinals, who have won four in a row.
Aaron Harang (3-13) was touched for eight runs on seven hits and three walks in just 3 1/3 frames. It was Harang's shortest outing of the season, and he has now lost three consecutive decisions.
Brandon Phillips and Andy Phillips each hit a solo homer for the Reds, who have lost three of four.
A Brandon Phillips sacrifice fly in the home first gave the Reds a one-run lead, but that was quickly erased when St. Louis erupted for five runs in the second frame.
Harang walked Rick Ankiel, gave up a Troy Glaus single, and then walked Felipe Lopez to fill the bases. Yadier Molina slapped a single to left that brought in a run, and after a strike out, Aaron Miles grounded the ball to short as Glaus scored. Miles beat out the relay throw of the attempted double play to keep the inning alive.
Harang still might have gotten out of the inning there, but he threw a fastball belt-high in the middle of the plate to Schumaker, who slammed it to deep center field for a three-run shot, boosting the Cardinals' lead to 5-1.
Pujols led off the top of the third with a homer to left, and St. Louis continued the homer trend in the fourth. Miles reached on an infield single, and Ludwick chased him home by hitting his 31st homer of the season to left. That brought on Gary Majewski, but Pujols greeted him with his second homer of the game, putting St. Louis ahead 9-1.
Andy Phillips pinch-hit for Majewski to lead off the home fifth, and the move paid off as Phillips just cleared the wall in left field for a solo homer. Brandon Phillips led off the home sixth with a homer of his own to trim the Cardinals lead to 9-3.
But those were the only runs Cincinnati got, as Jason Isringhausen, Russ Springer and Ron Villone each threw an inning of scoreless relief to finish the game.
It was Pujols' third multi-homer game of the season and 23rd of his career...Each team left eight runners on base...Pujols now has 26 homers this season....Brandon Phillips has 19 homers...On Saturday, the Reds reinstated first baseman Joey Votto from the bereavement list. Adam Rosales, who was brought up at the time Votto took the leave, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Votto hasn't played since August 8 because of an urgent family matter, but was allowed seven bereavement days and had to be placed back on the roster.
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