TORONTO, 29 April 2005 — Mark Grudzielanek hit for the cycle and Chris Carpenter celebrated his birthday by matching a career-high 12 strikeouts as the St. Louis Cardinals dumped the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 in the National League on Wednesday.
Their sixth straight win came after Grudzielanek cracked a leadoff homer in the first, singled in the second, doubled in a run in the fourth and tripled in the sixth to complete one of baseball’s rarest feats in his first four at bats. The cycle was just the 16th in St. Louis franchise history and the first since John Mabry at Colorado on June 18, 1996.
Only two other Cardinals have hit for the cycle at Busch Stadium, Ray Lankford against the New York Mets on September 15, 1991 and Lou Brock against the San Diego Padres on May 27, 1975. Carpenter (4-1), who turned 30 Wednesday, produced a birthday gem, allowing three runs on eight hits, no walks and striking out 12 in 7-2/3 innings of work. Julian Tavarez, taking over the closer’s role for Jason Isringhausen, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday with an abdominal strain, came on in the ninth to strike out the side and earn his first save of the season.
In New York, Andruw Jones, Wilson Betemit and Eddie Perez each had a homerun as the Atlanta Braves roughed up former team mate Tom Glavine, crushing the Mets 8-4. Mike Hampton tossed seven solid innings yielding three runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking two to remain unbeaten at 3-0.
In Pittsburgh, Kip Wells and relievers Rick White and Jose Mesa combined to pitch a four-hit shutout as the Pirates blanked the Houston Astros 2-0 for the second straight game.
In Chicago, Corey Patterson homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the Cubs to an 8-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Patterson’s game winner stole the spotlight from teammate Derrek Lee, who went 4-for-4 including a pair of home runs and six RBIs.
In San Francisco, Pedro Feliz cracked a three-run homer and Jason Ellison had three hits, scoring three runs, helping the Giants to a 10-3 demolition of the San Diego Padres.
Kirk Rueter (1-2) tossed 5-2/3 strong innings to get the decision, surrendering one run on four hits, no strikeouts and walking one.
In Washington, Jimmy Rollins homered to key a three-run ninth inning earning the Philadelphia Phillies a 3-0 win over of the Nationals. Rollins broke open the scoreless contest when he crushed a solo shot to deep right off Nationals starter Esteban Loaiza, then David Bell and Placido Polanco added insurance runs with RBI singles to seal the victory.
In Los Angeles, Luis Gonzalez had a two run single and was the big hit in a three run seventh inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to down the Dodgers 6-3 for their sixth consecutive win.
Angels Keep Rodriguez in Check to Beat Yankees
Garret Anderson and Steve Finley both homered and Jarrod Washburn collected his first win of the season leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees in American League action on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
Alex Rodriguez, who smacked three homers and a career high 10 RBIs on Tuesday, was limited to solo homerun accounting for all the Yankee scoring.
Washburn (1-0) worked 7 2/3 effective innings yielding the one run on nine hits while striking out four and walking two.
It was another rough outing for Yankees starter Mike Mussina (1-2) who was rocked for five runs on 10 hits, striking out two and walking one in seven innings.
In Toronto, Gustavo Chacin tossed 7 2/3 superb innings and Corey Koskie blasted out of his hitting slump going 3-for-5 and scored twice leading the Blue Jays to an 8-2 decision over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. It was another brilliant night on the hill for Chacin, the rookie left-hander limiting the Devil Rays to two run on seven hits, striking out three and walking two.
In Detroit, Craig Monroe smacked a two run homer and Jeremy Bonderman pitched eight solid innings as the Tigers cruised past the Cleveland Indians 10-3.
Bonderman (3-2) gave up just two runs, on solo home runs to Aaron Boone and Grady Sizemore, but gave up just one other hit while striking out seven and walking one.
In Oakland, Marco Scutaro’s ninth inning single drove in Erubiel Durazo with the winning run lifting the Athletics to a 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox. Durazo also had three hits, including a fourth inning solo homerun while Scutaro went 2-to-4 with the game winning RBI.
In Arlington, Michael Young’s three run homer keyed a five run first inning as the Texas Rangers struck early and then cruised to an 8-2 win over the Mariners.
With the big cushion Texas starter Kenny Rogers (1-2) took control pitching six shutout innings surrendering just two hits, both singles, striking out one and walking five.
In Kansas City, Matthew LeCroy cracked a two run homer and Jason Bartlett went 2-for-5 driving in three runs guiding the Minnesota Twins past the Royal 9-4.
