Encarnacion's bat, glove help Reds to 4-3 win over Cardinals

[April 29, 2008]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Edwin Encarnacion had a pair of RBI doubles and made a standout play at third base in the seventh inning to preserve a one-run lead in the Cincinnati Reds' 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

Bronson Arroyo (1-3) worked six solid innings for the Reds, who won their first series opener after losing the first nine. Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips had an RBI apiece to help Cincinnati win three in a row for the first time this season and even its record at 3-3 since Walt Jocketty became general manager.

Rick Ankiel hit his fifth home run for the Cardinals, for whom Jocketty served as GM the previous 13 seasons before getting fired last October. Albert Pujols singled twice and walked, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, and has reached base in all 27 games to start the season.

Arroyo allowed three runs on six hits and struck out six for his first victory since Sept. 12 against the Cardinals. He had been 0-4 in eight outings since, including an 0-3 start to the season for the second time in his career. He entered with a 7.56 ERA after failing to make it out of the fourth inning while allowing eight runs in his previous start, against Houston.

Francisco Cordero allowed a hit in the ninth for his fourth save in four chances.

The Reds bunched five hits in the second and third off Todd Wellemeyer (2-1), scoring twice in each inning to go ahead 4-0. Encarnacion had an RBI double in each inning.

Encarnacion's second RBI double put the Reds ahead 4-0 and was a gift after left fielder Chris Duncan lost his routine pop fly in the lights.

Wellemeyer allowed only two hits in his last three innings, striking out five and walking two. He had been 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his first two starts at home this season.

Troy Glaus drew a bases-loaded walk in the third, Ankiel hit his fifth homer in the fifth, and Cesar Izturis' opposite-field RBI double in the sixth off a sidearm 2-2 delivery from Arroyo cut the gap to a run. It stayed that way when the Cardinals caught a break in the seventh as Dunn's bases-loaded single struck Brandon Phillips for an out as he was running to second.

Glaus, who left Friday night's game due to watery eyes after striking out twice, wore sunglasses while flying out to end the first. Glaus, whose eyes are only affected during night games at home due to allergies, went without glasses while coaxing a full-count walk in the third.

[Associated Press; By R.B. FALLSTROM]

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