National League Roundup: Hot Cards close on Reds
St. Louis wins, 8-5, pulls within game of Cincy
Cincinnati ? The hard-charging Cardinals are starting to get under the Cincinnati Reds’ skin.
Fernando Vina had three hits and Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer Tuesday night, extending St. Louis’ dominance of the Reds with an 8-5 victory.
St. Louis's Eli Marrero, right, is safe at home as Cincinnati's Jason LaRue waits for the throw. The Cardinals beat the Reds, 8-5, on Tuesday in Cincinnati.
The Cardinals have won 18 of their last 24 games, putting the pressure on first-place Cincinnati in the NL Central. The Reds have led the division since April 16, but their five-game cushion is down to one.
Even more telling: The Cardinals have won six of their eight games against the Reds, raising questions about how long the division leaders can hang on.
“You’d like to start mixing in some wins,” said Reds third baseman Aaron Boone, who hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning. “You feel like a lot of people are saying, ‘Well, you can’t beat them, and it’s a must win and this is a huge series.’ I do feel like tomorrow’s game is important. This is a team we’ve got to beat.”
No one has beaten the Cardinals with Jason Simontacchi on the mound.
Simontacchi (4-0) was sharp despite an eight-day layoff, holding the Reds scoreless until Jason LaRue’s RBI single in the seventh cut it to 7-1. The right-hander gave up one run and seven hits in 613 innings on a humid, 82-degree night.
The 28-year-old rookie took a meandering path to the majors. He has played in four farm systems, an independent league, the Italian professional league, the Venezuelan winter league and the 2000 Olympics for Italy.
Simontacchi gave the Cardinals’ injury-depleted rotation a boost after his promotion in May, pitching so well that he has stayed on the staff. He’s been sharp after long layoffs, winning despite going 10 days and eight days between starts.
Without him, the Cardinals probably would be in serious trouble.
“It’s hard to describe the lift he’s given us,” manager Tony La Russa said. “He’s been really special and really needed.”
Simontacchi didn’t expect such great things an unbeaten record and a 2.48 ERA when he got his big league promotion.
“I expected to be successful, but the team got hot and things just kind of rolled,” he said.
He’s still a little wide-eyed about all of it. He savored the chance to face Ken Griffey Jr. for the first time.
“I just think about my dad watching at home, seeing what Griffey does,” said Simontacchi, who got him out all three times. “I’m still enjoying this.”
Griffey singled in five at-bats, leaving him 4-for-28 since returning from a torn knee tendon. He has only two hits in his last 23 at-bats, including a bunt single.
The Cardinals’ balanced offense picked up where it left off the last time it was at Cinergy Field. On May 12, St. Louis scored 10 consecutive runs for its biggest comeback in 10 years, a 10-8 victory.
Marlins 5, Phillies 0
Philadelphia Josh Beckett lasted only three innings because of another blister, but five Florida relievers finished a four-hitter. Beckett allowed one hit, struck out five and walked two before coming out with a blister on his middle finger.
Pirates 5, Expos 2
Montreal Chad Hermansen hit a leadoff home run against Carl Pavano (3-7), and Rob Mackowiak homered twice for Pittsburgh. Jimmy Anderson (5-7), who gave up 11 earned runs over 813 innings in his previous two starts, allowed five hits and one run in 61*3 innings.
Giants 3, Padres 1
San Diego Jeff Kent hit a three-run homer off Bobby Jones (3-4) in the first inning, and San Francisco extended San Diego’s losing streak to a season-high six games. It was the fourth homer in two nights by the Giants.
Brewers 6, Cubs 5 (11)
Milwaukee Alex Sanchez atoned for his ninth-inning baserunning blunder with an RBI single in the 11th off Jeff Fassero (1-4) as Milwaukee won its season-high fifth straight. Luis Vizcaino (4-1) pitched two perfect innings for the victory, Milwaukee’s seventh in eight games against the Cubs this season.
Dodgers 10, Rockies 4
Denver Eric Karros snapped a tie with a two-run single off Todd Jones (0-1), and Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning for the second game in a row as Los Angeles won its fourth straight. Jesse Orosco (1-1) got the victory. The Dodgers have won 10 of 13 overall.
Astros 6, D’backs 4
Phoenix Brad Ausmus hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning as Houston rallied to beat Arizona. Houston’s Lance Berkman, hitless in his first four at-bats, hit his 19th home run of the season, a solo shot off Mike Morgan in the eighth.
Mets-Braves postponed
Atlanta The first rainout in Turner Field history halted Tuesday night’s game between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, a matchup of the top two teams in the NL East. The game was called with the Mets leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sept. 10.