amag
04-07-2002, 12:21 PM
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stl/news/stl_news.jsp?ymd=20020406&content_id=5461&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp
Morris goes six; Marrero a single shy of the cycle
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- Matt Morris recorded his second win in as many starts while Eli Marrero was a single short of the cycle as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros, 8-4, on Saturday in front of 36,255 fans at Astros Field.
Marerro and Mike Defelice hit back-to-back homers off Astros reliever Nelson Cruz in the eighth to give the Cardinals a 5-2 lead. St. Louis increased that advantage further in the ninth when they scored three more off Scott Linebrink, who issued leadoff doubles to J.D. Drew and Albert Pujols, followed by a single to Jim Edmonds and a walk to Edgar Renteria. Linebrink was lifted from the game after he hit Defelice with a pitch to score Perez, prompting manager Jimy Williams to bring in Octavio Dotel.
The game was a close one for much of the night. The two teams were locked in a 2-2 tie through six innings, but the Cardinals surged ahead 3-2 in the seventh when Pujols hit a sacrifice fly to score Fernando Vina.
Morris allowed only two runs -- both unearned -- as he cruised to the win. "He came through with another big game for us," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "He's a tremendous competitor. He really gave us a lift tonight.
Astros starting pitcher Carlos Hernandez led off the third with a base hit to right and advanced to second when St. Louis shortstop Renteria misplayed a Brad Ausmus grounder. Jeff Bagwell singled to load the bases, and Richard Hidalgo drove in Hernandez and Ausmus with a base hit to left to give the Astros a temporary 2-1 lead.
Pujols erased that lead with a solo homer off Hernandez in the fifth.
Morris (2-0) earned the win after limiting the Astros to two unearned runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over six innings. He lowered his ERA over two starts to 0.69. Meanwhile, his Cardinal teammates unleashed 15 hits -- nine for extra bases.
"The team picked me up today, I was able to stay in there long enough to get a decision," said Morris. "That's a very tough team, and they make you battle for everything."
Hernandez did not factor into the decision after allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout over five innings.
Cruz (0-1) was tagged with the loss, yielding three runs on five hits over 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Trailing 8-2 in the ninth, Lance Berkman hit a two-run double off Luther Hackman to deep center to score Orlando Merced and Bagwell, but the Astros rally ended when Hidalgo flew out to right to end the game.
Eli Marrero got the start in right field and went 3-for-4 with homer, triple and double and is 6-for-7 on the season. "He's one of the best athletes in the league," saind La Russa. "He can do so many things. If he hasn't earned another start tomorrow, I don't know what he would have to do to earn one."
After winning their first series of the year over Milwaukee to open the season, the Astros (2-3) are one loss away from being swept by the Cardinals on Sunday. The Cardinals improved their early-season record to 3-2.
"Their pitching staff and bullpen is as good as advertised," said Berkman. "We're really going to have to scramble. We're going to have to play good fundamental baseball, and we're not going to be able to give them any extra opportunities or extra runs."
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Morris goes six; Marrero a single shy of the cycle
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- Matt Morris recorded his second win in as many starts while Eli Marrero was a single short of the cycle as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros, 8-4, on Saturday in front of 36,255 fans at Astros Field.
Marerro and Mike Defelice hit back-to-back homers off Astros reliever Nelson Cruz in the eighth to give the Cardinals a 5-2 lead. St. Louis increased that advantage further in the ninth when they scored three more off Scott Linebrink, who issued leadoff doubles to J.D. Drew and Albert Pujols, followed by a single to Jim Edmonds and a walk to Edgar Renteria. Linebrink was lifted from the game after he hit Defelice with a pitch to score Perez, prompting manager Jimy Williams to bring in Octavio Dotel.
The game was a close one for much of the night. The two teams were locked in a 2-2 tie through six innings, but the Cardinals surged ahead 3-2 in the seventh when Pujols hit a sacrifice fly to score Fernando Vina.
Morris allowed only two runs -- both unearned -- as he cruised to the win. "He came through with another big game for us," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. "He's a tremendous competitor. He really gave us a lift tonight.
Astros starting pitcher Carlos Hernandez led off the third with a base hit to right and advanced to second when St. Louis shortstop Renteria misplayed a Brad Ausmus grounder. Jeff Bagwell singled to load the bases, and Richard Hidalgo drove in Hernandez and Ausmus with a base hit to left to give the Astros a temporary 2-1 lead.
Pujols erased that lead with a solo homer off Hernandez in the fifth.
Morris (2-0) earned the win after limiting the Astros to two unearned runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over six innings. He lowered his ERA over two starts to 0.69. Meanwhile, his Cardinal teammates unleashed 15 hits -- nine for extra bases.
"The team picked me up today, I was able to stay in there long enough to get a decision," said Morris. "That's a very tough team, and they make you battle for everything."
Hernandez did not factor into the decision after allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout over five innings.
Cruz (0-1) was tagged with the loss, yielding three runs on five hits over 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Trailing 8-2 in the ninth, Lance Berkman hit a two-run double off Luther Hackman to deep center to score Orlando Merced and Bagwell, but the Astros rally ended when Hidalgo flew out to right to end the game.
Eli Marrero got the start in right field and went 3-for-4 with homer, triple and double and is 6-for-7 on the season. "He's one of the best athletes in the league," saind La Russa. "He can do so many things. If he hasn't earned another start tomorrow, I don't know what he would have to do to earn one."
After winning their first series of the year over Milwaukee to open the season, the Astros (2-3) are one loss away from being swept by the Cardinals on Sunday. The Cardinals improved their early-season record to 3-2.
"Their pitching staff and bullpen is as good as advertised," said Berkman. "We're really going to have to scramble. We're going to have to play good fundamental baseball, and we're not going to be able to give them any extra opportunities or extra runs."
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.