Cardinals pitcher Braden Looper was on the field more than he expected Sunday — the price of getting two hits on a hot day.
Looper continued his torrid hitting to help earn himself a win in the Cardinals’ 7-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had two singles, scored twice, and drove in a run to raise his batting average to .429 — tops among pitchers in the majors. On the mound, Looper (7-4) allowed eights hits and three runs in 5 2-3 innings.
Ryan Franklin, the fifth Cardinals pitcher, got three outs for his sixth save in eight attempts. Franklin gave up a single and double with two outs before retiring Doug Mientkiewicz on a fly to left.
Skip Schumaker drove in a career-high three runs to help the Cardinals.
Ian Snell (2-5) lost his fifth consecutive decision and is 0-5 in his last nine starts. His last win came on April 12. Snell pitched to one batter in the fifth before being lifted. He allowed six runs and eight hits.
Looper got some defensive help from Rick Ankiel. The center fielder made a highlight-reel catch when he turned his back to home and drove headfirst at the warning track to catch a deep fly hit by Xavier Nady in the second.
“That play obviously was huge,” Looper said. “I knew it was a great catch because the ball was scorched.”
St. Louis manager Tony La Russa agreed.
“It was probably the best play of the year for us,” La Russa said. “Ankiel set the tempo”
The Cardinals broke the game open in the second inning when they scored five runs off Snell.
“They got a five-run inning and they didn’t get the ball past the outfield,” Pittsburgh manager John Russell said. “You take away that five-run inning and it’s a totally different game.”
With the bases loaded, Adam Kennedy singled to score Troy Glaus, who led off with a single. Looper followed with an RBI single.
Yadier Molina, who singled, scored on a fielder’s choice. Schumaker added a two-run single.
“They didn’t hit the ball hard, they just got it through, Snell said. “I was frustrated but I didn’t want to show it. I couldn’t get an out.”
St. Louis made it 6-1 in the fourth on an RBI double by Schumaker.
Pittsburgh scored in the second on an RBI single by Jose Bautista and in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Freddy Sanchez.
The Pirates loaded the bases with two outs on two singles and a walk to chase Looper in the sixth. Reliver Kyle McClelland hit Nate McLouth before ending the inning on a ground out by Luis Rivas. McLouth also was hit by Looper to lead off the game.
A one-out homer by Troy Glaus gave St. Louis a 7-3 lead in the seventh. Glaus also made a nifty backhanded grab of a hard-hit ball by Nady to end the seventh.
“You can’t win without guys making plays,” Looper said. “We have a good defensive club.”
Pittsburgh scored its final run in the eighth on an RBI double by Bautista.
The game was delayed 13 minutes in the fifth when an electric advertising board malfunction located in the batter’s eye in center wouldn’t close.
Notes: Pittsburgh was 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. ... La Russa was honored before the game. On Saturday, he passes Red Schoendienst with his 2,000th game as the St. Louis manager, passing Schoendienst for the franchise’s top spot. He was given a check for $20,000 for his Animal Rescue Foundation. ... Pittsburgh shortstop Jack Wilson was a late scratch. He has a sore left calf. “It was more of a precautionary today,” Russell said about Wilson. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready tomorrow.”
Sports
Related Photos
-
AP PHOTO
A throwing trend
Snell’s struggles continue, Pirates lose to Cardinals
- Sports
-
-
Notre Dame stops WVU, 55-51
If Kevin Jones could have scored 20 points against Notre Dame on Wednesday night before a disappointing crowd of 9,258 in the Coliseum he would have joined Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley in the West Virginia record books.
-
Byrd upsets Polar Bears: VIDEO AND PHOTOS
On a night when Fairmont Senior head coach David Retton was honored for getting his 200th career win, the Polar Bears played like their own worst enemy.
The Bears struggled in multiple facets of the game as visiting Robert C. Byrd handed them their first loss to a Big Ten school and second in three games, 53-52. -
Bridgeport thumps North boys: VIDEO AND PHOTOS
The No. 9 North Marion boys’ basketball team did not have much going for it Wednesday.
The Huskies turned the ball over, missed shots, missed rebounds. You name it, and if it hurts a team’s chance at winning a basketball game, the Huskies probably did it Wednesday against Bridgeport. -
HERTZEL COLUMN: It’s unfair to consider Truck villain
The zero next to Truck Bryant’s name stood out like an obscene gesture during a Super Bowl halftime show.
Some even said he was M.I.A. as West Virginia University lost a heartbreaker, if not a season-breaker, to Notre Dame, 55-51. -
Bears’ Malnick signs with Fairmont State
Standout Fairmont Senior football star Trevor Malnick will stay close to home to play college football.
Fairmont State University added Malnick to its list of recruits who have signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Falcons this fall. -
Polar Bears fall to RCB, 53-52
Fairmont Senior was its own worst enemy Wednesday night, as Robert C. Byrd handed the Polar Bears their first loss in the Big Ten and second in the last three games after starting the season 13-0.
-
Bridgeport thumps North Marion, 66-36
Not much went right for North Marion on Wednesday. The Class AAA No. 9 Huskies trailed the entire game and lost to visiting Bridgeport, 66-36.
Tyler Sprouse paced Bridgeport (13-6) with 22 points to lead all scorers. -
Jones nears milestone as Notre Dame visits WVU
That it is a crucial game in a season that seems to have nothing but, today’s 9 p.m. visit to the Coliseum by a streaking Notre Dame team comes with a historical footnote in the history of West Virginia University basketball.
Kevin Jones enters the game having scored 20 or more points in nine consecutive games. -
East girls win on Senior Night: VIDEO AND PHOTOS
Facing what looked to be a potential loss on Senior Night, East Fairmont had to make something happen in the second half Tuesday against visiting Elkins.
Down by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, the Bees stormed back and shut down the Tigers in the final two periods for a 53-43 win at the Hive. -
WVU source: Battle to join Big 12 nearing conclusion
Indications were growing that West Virginia University’s battle to leave the Big East and join the Big 12 in time for the 2012 season was about to be won, possibly as early as today.
A source within the Mountaineer athletic department said on Tuesday that the matter was nearing a conclusion and also told the Times West Virginian that West Virginia would be reinstating a golf team to compete in the Big 12. - More Sports Headlines
-
Notre Dame stops WVU, 55-51
