Craig belts two home runs as Cardinals destroy the Pirates
Source: Agencies |
August 19, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ST. Louis outfielder Allen Craig repaid his manager's faith in him by hitting two home runs to lift the Cardinals to a 7-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
Craig, in his second year in Major League Baseball, had failed to record a hit since returning on August 10 from a fractured knee cap that sidelined him for two months.
St. Louis manager Tony La Russa was sure the young player could still deliver.
"I watched him when he was healthy (and) I said it several times - I'd like to get him in the lineup," La Russa said. "The guy's already proven he deserves playing time."
Craig proved his worth by smashing a two-run homer in the opening inning where the Cardinals went ahead 3-0, then added a solo blast in the seventh to give the visitors a 5-2 advantage.
St. Louis added two more runs in the eighth and finished with 15 hits, four from Craig along with three from Yadier Molina, to cruise to a much-needed victory.
"It was definitely a big win to stop things there and end this series with a win," Craig said. "It would have been tough to lose this game."
St. Louis eluded a third consecutive defeat to the Pirates (58-64) and avoided falling further behind in the National League Central.
The Cardinals (66-58) are seven games behind leaders Milwaukee (72-51), which beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
St. Louis starter Kyle Lohse pitched seven innings to record his 11th victory of the season. Lohse allowed a two-run homer to Jose Tabata in the fifth but struck out seven during an impressive outing.
In other National League games, it was: Phillies 9, Diamondbacks 2; Giants 7, Braves 5; Brewers 3, Dodgers 1; Reds 2, Nationals 1; Mets 7, Padres 3; Rockies 12, Marlins 5; and Astros 4, Cubs 3.
In the American League, it was: Rays 4, Red Sox 0; Rangers 4, Angels 3; Royals 5, Yankees 4; Indians 4, White Sox 1; Twins 6, Tigers 5; Blue Jays 5, Mariners 1; and Athletics 6, Orioles 5.
NL leaders clash
In Philadelphia, Cliff Lee threw seven impressive innings to guide the Phillies to a 9-2 win over Arizona in Wednesday's clash of National League divisional leaders, ending the Diamondbacks seven-game winning streak.
Lee (13-7) allowed three hits, striking out seven.
Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff homer and Wilson Valdez hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh for the Phillies.
Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders (8-10) pitched well before unraveling in the seventh. He gave up five runs in six-plus innings as Arizona saw its NL West lead sliced to 2-1/2 games.
In Milwaukee, Zack Greinke won his fifth straight start, helping Milwaukee beat Los Angeles and notch its 19th victory in 21 games.
The NL Central-leading Brewers remained seven games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central.
Jerry Hairston's two-out single in the sixth helped Greinke (12-4) become the first Brewers pitcher in franchise history to win his first nine home decisions with the club.
Dodgers rookie Nathan Eovaldi (1-1) was the loser.
In San Diego, New York sealed its first series win in San Diego for nine years.
David Wright hit a three-run homer off Mat Latos (6-12) in the third inning. Wright also turned a tricky play at third base that resulted in the final out of the third to thwart a potential San Diego rally. Angel Pagan had three RBIs for the Mets.
New York rookie Dillon Gee (11-4) limited the Padres to one run over 6 2-3 innings. He also made a sparkling fielding play in the third inning that resulted in an inning-ending double play.
In Denver, Aaron Cook pitched effectively into the eighth inning as Colorado overpowered Florida.
Carlos Gonzalez hit a three-run homer and a run-scoring single while Chris Iannetta also drove in four runs with a double and a single.
In Boston, David Price pitched eight scoreless innings to guide Tampa Bay to a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in the American League on Wednesday, keeping a pulse in the Rays' faint playoff hopes.
Price (11-10) struck out six as the Rays held Boston to three hits for the third straight game.
In Anaheim, Texas opened a commanding seven-game lead over Los Angeles atop the AL West standings by beating the Angles for the third straight game.
Craig, in his second year in Major League Baseball, had failed to record a hit since returning on August 10 from a fractured knee cap that sidelined him for two months.
St. Louis manager Tony La Russa was sure the young player could still deliver.
"I watched him when he was healthy (and) I said it several times - I'd like to get him in the lineup," La Russa said. "The guy's already proven he deserves playing time."
Craig proved his worth by smashing a two-run homer in the opening inning where the Cardinals went ahead 3-0, then added a solo blast in the seventh to give the visitors a 5-2 advantage.
St. Louis added two more runs in the eighth and finished with 15 hits, four from Craig along with three from Yadier Molina, to cruise to a much-needed victory.
"It was definitely a big win to stop things there and end this series with a win," Craig said. "It would have been tough to lose this game."
St. Louis eluded a third consecutive defeat to the Pirates (58-64) and avoided falling further behind in the National League Central.
The Cardinals (66-58) are seven games behind leaders Milwaukee (72-51), which beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
St. Louis starter Kyle Lohse pitched seven innings to record his 11th victory of the season. Lohse allowed a two-run homer to Jose Tabata in the fifth but struck out seven during an impressive outing.
In other National League games, it was: Phillies 9, Diamondbacks 2; Giants 7, Braves 5; Brewers 3, Dodgers 1; Reds 2, Nationals 1; Mets 7, Padres 3; Rockies 12, Marlins 5; and Astros 4, Cubs 3.
In the American League, it was: Rays 4, Red Sox 0; Rangers 4, Angels 3; Royals 5, Yankees 4; Indians 4, White Sox 1; Twins 6, Tigers 5; Blue Jays 5, Mariners 1; and Athletics 6, Orioles 5.
NL leaders clash
In Philadelphia, Cliff Lee threw seven impressive innings to guide the Phillies to a 9-2 win over Arizona in Wednesday's clash of National League divisional leaders, ending the Diamondbacks seven-game winning streak.
Lee (13-7) allowed three hits, striking out seven.
Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff homer and Wilson Valdez hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh for the Phillies.
Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders (8-10) pitched well before unraveling in the seventh. He gave up five runs in six-plus innings as Arizona saw its NL West lead sliced to 2-1/2 games.
In Milwaukee, Zack Greinke won his fifth straight start, helping Milwaukee beat Los Angeles and notch its 19th victory in 21 games.
The NL Central-leading Brewers remained seven games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central.
Jerry Hairston's two-out single in the sixth helped Greinke (12-4) become the first Brewers pitcher in franchise history to win his first nine home decisions with the club.
Dodgers rookie Nathan Eovaldi (1-1) was the loser.
In San Diego, New York sealed its first series win in San Diego for nine years.
David Wright hit a three-run homer off Mat Latos (6-12) in the third inning. Wright also turned a tricky play at third base that resulted in the final out of the third to thwart a potential San Diego rally. Angel Pagan had three RBIs for the Mets.
New York rookie Dillon Gee (11-4) limited the Padres to one run over 6 2-3 innings. He also made a sparkling fielding play in the third inning that resulted in an inning-ending double play.
In Denver, Aaron Cook pitched effectively into the eighth inning as Colorado overpowered Florida.
Carlos Gonzalez hit a three-run homer and a run-scoring single while Chris Iannetta also drove in four runs with a double and a single.
In Boston, David Price pitched eight scoreless innings to guide Tampa Bay to a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in the American League on Wednesday, keeping a pulse in the Rays' faint playoff hopes.
Price (11-10) struck out six as the Rays held Boston to three hits for the third straight game.
In Anaheim, Texas opened a commanding seven-game lead over Los Angeles atop the AL West standings by beating the Angles for the third straight game.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
