Pujols Sparks Cardinals' Comeback Win Over Pads
POSTED: 12:01 am PDT July 20,
2008
St. Louis, MO -- (Sports Network) - Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with four runs driven in to lead the St. Louis Cardinals in a 6-5 win over the San Diego Padres in the third installment of a four-game set.Rick Ankiel and Skip Schumaker were responsible for an RBI apiece for St. Louis, which has won four straight games. Todd Wellemeyer (8-4) got the win as he went 6 1/3 innings and was touched for five runs on five hits. Ryan Franklin tossed two innings of scoreless relief to notch his 14th save. Edgar Gonzalez hit a three-run home run for the Padres, who have dropped five straight contests. Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff each had an RBI in defeat. Randy Wolf (6-10) took the loss as he was hit for six runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. St. Louis took the lead for good, 6-5, in the sixth inning. Cesar Izturis led off with a single and moved to second as Wellemeyer put down a sac bunt. Brendan Ryan made it second and third as he reached base on a throwing error by Kouzmanoff. Schumaker then grounded out, which allowed Izturis to score, and Cla Meredith was called on in relief. Meredith uncorked a wild pitch, moving Ryan to third, and walked Ryan Ludwick. Pujols then hit an RBI single and the Cardinals had their first lead of the game. The Padres wasted no time in getting on the board. Jody Gerut led off the game with a single, but was gone as Edgar Gonzalez followed by lining into a force out. Brian Giles then walked and Adrian Gonzalez followed with a fly ball to center that appeared to be the second out. Ankiel overran the ball, however, allowing it to roll to the wall and permitting Edgar Gonzalez to cross home while leaving runners on second and third. Kouzmanoff offered a sac fly to center, and it was 2-0. The Padres tacked on three more runs in the second frame. Khalil Greene led off with a double, Nick Hundley followed with a ground out and Wolf worked a walk before a brief coaching visit to the mound. Gerut then grounded into a force, leaving runners at the corners, and Edgar Gonzalez cleared the table with a home run to left, as the Padres assumed a 5-0 advantage. The Cardinals cut their deficit to 5-4 in the fifth inning. The bases were loaded as Wellemeyer singled, Schumaker walked and Ludwick singled. Pujols then crushed the first pitch he saw to the gap in left for a three-run double. Troy Glaus then struck out swinging, but Ankiel singled to center to plate Pujols. Game Notes Wolf made his first appearance in St. Louis since 1999, when he was with the Phillies...The Padres are 1-9 in Wolf's 10 road starts...Wellemeyer allowed one hit in his last 4 1/3 innings.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.







