Pujols hurt as Ludwick leads Cards past Reds 7-2

[June 11, 2008]  CINCINNATI (AP) -- Ryan Ludwick homered and drove in four runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel gave the Cardinals their first set of back-to-back home runs this season before Pujols was helped off the field in the top of the seventh inning with a strained left calf he suffered while running out a ground ball.

Pujols will be reevaluated on Wednesday.

Ludwick also doubled twice and singled in support of rookie right-hander Mitchell Boggs, who made his first major league start and second appearance.

Reds right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-3 with a walk in his first home game since hitting his 600th career home run Monday in Florida. He stepped out of the dugout and waved his batting helmet to acknowledge a standing ovation after his milestone home run was replayed on the video screen and a "Griffey Jr. 600" home run sign was unveiled in right-center field.

Boggs (1-0) allowed four hits and two runs with three walks over five innings.

The Cardinals scored four runs with two outs in the third inning. Brendan Ryan scored from second base on Ludwick's first double. Pujols followed with his 16th homer of the season and Ankiel, who missed the previous five games with a right knee infection, added his ninth.

Ludwick doubled again in the fourth inning to drive in Ryan from second base and give the Cardinals a 5-0 lead. Reds rookie Joey Votto cut that lead to 5-2 with his 11th homer of the season -- a two-run shot to center field in the fourth -- but Ludwick led off the seventh with his 15th homer of the season, a new career high.

Homer Bailey (0-2) was roughed up for five runs and eight hits in his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Thursday. He walked three and struck out two in 3 2-3 innings. The Reds have lost four of their last five games.

Ludwick added his fourth RBI by driving in Ryan from third base with a bloop single to right field in the ninth.

Notes: The Reds placed IF-OF Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day disabled list because of a broke thumb and sent RHP Gary Majewski to the bereavement list so he could be with his wife, who was delivering their first child. The team selected the contract of IF-OF Jolbert Cabrera and recalled rookie LHP Danny Herrera from Triple-A Louisville. ... All-time career hits leader Pete Rose received a standing ovation after he was shown sitting in field level seats behind the plate in the middle of the third inning. ... RHP Joel Pineiro, disabled since May 21 with a right groin strain, threw in the St. Louis bullpen before the game and will start Thursday against Cincinnati, manager Tony LaRussa said.

[Associated Press; By CHARLES ODUM]

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