Pujols, Cardinals top Reds

Apr 26, 2007, 3:05 GMT

St. Louis, MO - Albert Pujols hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the eighth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals downed the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, in the second of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.

Chris Duncan went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Yadier Molina and Jim Edmonds each drove in a run for the Cardinals, who have won two of their last three games.

Braden Looper started on the mound for St. Louis and pitched seven innings of one-run, three-hit ball. Randy Flores (1-0) got the win as he gave up one run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.

Josh Hamilton hit a solo home run and Scott Hatteberg drove in a run for the Reds, who have dropped three of their last four contests.

Bronson Arroyo was strong in the start as he was charged with one run on five hits in seven innings of work. Kirk Saarloos (0-2) was saddled with the loss as he was charged with four runs -- two earned -- without retiring a batter.

The game was tied, 1-1, to start the bottom of the eighth, but St. Louis scored four times in the frame to take a 5-1 lead.

David Eckstein led off with a single off Saarloos, Duncan followed with a walk and Pujols hit a two-run double to give the Cardinals the lead. Saarloos issued an intentional walk to Scott Rolen and Jon Coutlangus took over pitching duties. Coutlangus got So Taguchi to hit into a fielder's choice before Victor Santos stepped onto the mound.

Preston Wilson hit a soft grounder to short that Alex Gonzalez fielded, but the throw went wild and Rolen scored and Wilson reached second base. After Adam Kennedy was issued an intentional walk, Molina's sacrifice fly plated Taguchi for a four-run lead.

The Reds got a run back in the top of the ninth on a two-out RBI single from Hatteberg, but Jason Isringhausen got the last out of the game to pick up his fifth save of the season.

The Cardinals broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth inning as Rolen led off with a ground-rule double and Edmonds brought him home with a single to center for a 1-0 lead.

The Reds, though, tied the game in the sixth as Hamilton led off the frame by hitting a pitch over the center field wall for his sixth home run of the season.

Game Notes

Looper has a 1.91 earned-run average on the season...Pujols has 14 RBI...Kennedy stole his second base this season...Eckstein has four errors...St. Louis has won four of its last six games against Cincinnati.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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