amag
09-02-2002, 08:41 PM
09/02/2002 5:13 pm ET
Reds hold off Cardinals
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stl/news/stl_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20020902&content_id=119665&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp
ST. LOUIS -- The second time around, Garrett Stephenson's luck ran out.
Stephenson, making his second start against the Reds in six days, was hit hard in a 5-3 defeat to the Reds. Cincinnati piled up nine hits against the right-hander in just 4 1/3 innings. Last week at Cinergy Field, Stephenson dodged trouble and managed to post four shutout frames in his return from the disabled list.
Aaron Boone did as much to wreck Stephenson's day as anyone. The third baseman homered, doubled and drove in three runs, including the game-winner, as the Reds won for the fourth time in their last 15 games. Cincinnati closed within nine games of the first-place Cardinals in the NL Central. Houston is in second, 4 games out after losing to Texas, 7-2 on Monday.
Shawn Estes recorded his first win for Cincinnati, giving up three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. Estes struck out three and walked two. The Reds had been 0-3 in Estes' three starts since they acquired him from the Mets.
Cardinals catcher/outfielder Eli Marrero continued his torrid hitting, but cost his team on the basepaths. Marrero singled, doubled and drove in two runs, but he was picked off first base in the second inning and thrown out attempting to steal third in the fourth.
Todd Walker led off the game with a double against Stephenson, but was thrown out at third as Barry Larkin reached on a fielder's choice. Larkin took second on a wild pitch, and Adam Dunn singled him in. Boone followed with his 24th homer, a 410-foot blast that cleared the visitors bullpen in left field.
The Cardinals got a run back in the bottom of the inning, but they missed a chance to do much more. Estes hit leadoff man Fernando Vina with a pitch, then Miguel Cairo singled to left. When Scott Rolen reached on an error, the bases were loaded with no outs. Albert Pujols lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1, but Eduardo Perez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
St. Louis tied the game in the fourth, thanks to Marrero. After Perez doubled and Edgar Renteria reached on an infield single, Marrero doubled to center to score both men. But he was thrown out trying to steal and Mike DiFelice struck out looking, letting Estes off the hook.
Stephenson couldn't keep the game tied. Larkin led off the fifth with a single and advanced to third on a single by Adam Dunn. Dunn was thrown out trying to take second on the play, but Boone followed with a double to make it 4-3. Jose Guillen singled against reliever Mike Crudale to score Boone.
St. Louis threatened in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with two outs and Marrero batting. But reliever Joey Hamilton replaced Estes and got Marrero to fly out to right field.
Danny Graves pitched a perfect ninth for his 31st save.
Matthew Leach covers the Cardinals for MLB.com. He can be reached at Matthew_H_Leach@yahoo.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs
Reds hold off Cardinals
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stl/news/stl_gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20020902&content_id=119665&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp
ST. LOUIS -- The second time around, Garrett Stephenson's luck ran out.
Stephenson, making his second start against the Reds in six days, was hit hard in a 5-3 defeat to the Reds. Cincinnati piled up nine hits against the right-hander in just 4 1/3 innings. Last week at Cinergy Field, Stephenson dodged trouble and managed to post four shutout frames in his return from the disabled list.
Aaron Boone did as much to wreck Stephenson's day as anyone. The third baseman homered, doubled and drove in three runs, including the game-winner, as the Reds won for the fourth time in their last 15 games. Cincinnati closed within nine games of the first-place Cardinals in the NL Central. Houston is in second, 4 games out after losing to Texas, 7-2 on Monday.
Shawn Estes recorded his first win for Cincinnati, giving up three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. Estes struck out three and walked two. The Reds had been 0-3 in Estes' three starts since they acquired him from the Mets.
Cardinals catcher/outfielder Eli Marrero continued his torrid hitting, but cost his team on the basepaths. Marrero singled, doubled and drove in two runs, but he was picked off first base in the second inning and thrown out attempting to steal third in the fourth.
Todd Walker led off the game with a double against Stephenson, but was thrown out at third as Barry Larkin reached on a fielder's choice. Larkin took second on a wild pitch, and Adam Dunn singled him in. Boone followed with his 24th homer, a 410-foot blast that cleared the visitors bullpen in left field.
The Cardinals got a run back in the bottom of the inning, but they missed a chance to do much more. Estes hit leadoff man Fernando Vina with a pitch, then Miguel Cairo singled to left. When Scott Rolen reached on an error, the bases were loaded with no outs. Albert Pujols lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1, but Eduardo Perez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
St. Louis tied the game in the fourth, thanks to Marrero. After Perez doubled and Edgar Renteria reached on an infield single, Marrero doubled to center to score both men. But he was thrown out trying to steal and Mike DiFelice struck out looking, letting Estes off the hook.
Stephenson couldn't keep the game tied. Larkin led off the fifth with a single and advanced to third on a single by Adam Dunn. Dunn was thrown out trying to take second on the play, but Boone followed with a double to make it 4-3. Jose Guillen singled against reliever Mike Crudale to score Boone.
St. Louis threatened in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with two outs and Marrero batting. But reliever Joey Hamilton replaced Estes and got Marrero to fly out to right field.
Danny Graves pitched a perfect ninth for his 31st save.
Matthew Leach covers the Cardinals for MLB.com. He can be reached at Matthew_H_Leach@yahoo.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs