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Cardinals use 18 hits to pound slumping Dodgers
2007-08-13
Ryan Ludwick drove in four runs and the St. Louis Cardinals used a season-high 18 hits to pound the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers 12-2 on Sunday. Aaron Miles had four hits and David Eckstein three as the Cardinals handed the Dodgers their eighth loss in 10 games. Ludwick belted a three-run homer in the first inning and drove in another run in a five-run third inning. His homer landed in the second-deck seats in left field. "(Braden) Looper has actually been joking with me all season long, saying that I don't have that type of pop in my bat. I finally proved him wrong, I guess," Ludwick told reporters. The victory was the fifth in seven games for the 2006 World Series champions, who got five hits, seven RBIs and four runs from recent minor league call-ups. Brendan Ryan, recalled from Memphis on Sunday, drove in three runs with a double and a home run. Another call-up, pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel, continued his outstanding play with a double and a run scored. He hit two home runs and went 3-for-4 on Saturday and is now 6-for-16 since being recalled on Thursday. Anthony Reyes (2-11) picked up the win, striking out five while giving up seven hits and two runs in six innings. He also had a third-inning single. *Moises Alou homered twice and the National League East Division-leading New York Mets beat the Florida Marlins 10-4. Alou broke a 4-4 tie with the second homer in the sixth inning as the Mets avoided a sweep by the Marlins. *Ryan Howard's three-run homer powered the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-3 home win over the Atlanta Braves. The victory moved the Phillies back into second place in the NL East, one-half game ahead of the Braves and three behind the division-leading Mets. *Brian Giles had two home runs and Khalil Greene went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs as San Diego's Jake Peavy improved to 5-0 against Cincinnati in a 10-4 road win. *Josh Phelps drove in four runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their sixth consecutive game at San Francisco, beating the Giants 5-0. (Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina)
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