Cardinals rally to top Reds

Jun 7, 2007, 3:50 GMT

St. Louis, MO - Ryan Ludwick and Albert Pujols homered in the decisive seventh inning as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for a 6-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the second of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.

After Ludwick belted his first career pinch-hit homer with one-out to tie the game at 4-4, David Eckstein singled. Chris Duncan then struck out before Pujols crushed a 1-2 pitch over the left-center field fence to give the Cardinals the lead for good.

Brad Thompson lasted six innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out two. Tyler Johnson (1-0) threw a scoreless seventh to earn the win, while Jason Isringhausen got the last three outs for his 14th save in 15 opportunities for the Cardinals, who have won six of seven.

Scott Hatteberg homered and knocked in two runs for the Reds, who have lost four straight and five of their last six games.

Bronson Arroyo (2-7) allowed six runs on nine hits, while walking one and striking out five to absorb the loss.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the second when Scott Rolen doubled, stole third and scored on Juan Encarnacion's sacrifice fly. The Reds, though, tied the game in the third on Hatteberg's one-out solo homer.

Cincinnati then took a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth. Juan Castro doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Arroyo and scored on Hatteberg's sacrifice fly to center. Brandon Phillips then singled before back-to-back doubles by Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn.

St. Louis responded with two runs in the home half of the frame. Encarnacion led off with a single, moved to second on Aaron Miles' ground out and scored on Kelly Stinnett's single. Stinnett advanced to second on Thompson's sacrifice bunt and scored on Eckstein's two-out double.

Game Notes

Arroyo is 0-5 in six starts since his last win on May 6. He's 0-3 with a 13.25 ERA in his last four starts...Ludwick's homer was the 15th of his career, and first since May 22, 2005 as a member of the Cleveland Indians...Attendance was 42,029.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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