Ludwick, Glaus lift Cards to 11-3 win over Padres

[May 22, 2008]  SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Ryan Ludwick and Troy Glaus both drove in three runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to an 11-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.

Things continued to get worse for the last-place Padres, who lost pitcher Chris Young and catcher Josh Bard to injuries in a span of two batters in the third inning.

Young had his nose broken when Albert Pujols lined a shot off his face in the third inning that sent blood streaming down the front of his jersey. Bard sprained his left ankle on a play at the plate when Pujols slid into his leg.

The injuries came one day after reigning NL Cy Young winner Jake Peavy was placed on the disabled list with a strained and swollen right elbow.

Ludwick had a two-run single in the fourth when St. Louis scored three times to make it 6-2.

Glaus drove in two runs with a single in the Cardinals' three-run third when they took a 3-2 lead. San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer off Braden Looper (6-3) in the first inning.

Skip Schumaker of the Cardinals tied his season high with four hits and reached on a walk, while pinch-hitter Rick Ankiel hit a two-run homer, his eighth, in the eighth off Justin Germano.

Aaron Miles had three hits and scored two runs for St. Louis, which tied a season high with 16 hits for the second straight game.

Looper allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked two.

The Padres (17-31) have lost 12 of 17 games and have the worst record in the majors. St. Louis won for the fourth time in five games.

Gonzalez drove in the Padres' other run with an RBI single.

Pujols' line drive immediately knocked Young onto his backside as he put his right hand up to his face. Blood was running down his face. After a few minutes of sitting on the grass, Young walked off holding a bandage on his face and with blood on the front of his jersey.

Pujols' shot ricocheted to the left side of the infield for a single and loaded the bases with one out. After Ludwick's grounder knocked in one run and advanced the runners, Glaus lined a single to right to score Miles. Right fielder Brian Giles' throw arrived at the plate at the same time as Pujols, who slid and caught Bard's left leg.

Bard went down in a heap and stayed on the ground for a few minutes before he was helped off the field, dragging his leg.

Young (4-4) allowed three runs and four hits in 2 1-3 innings.

Notes: San Diego hitting coach Wally Joyner was ejected by home plate umpire Jim Reynolds in the sixth inning for arguing a strike call to Jody Gerut. ... Young had won three of his previous four starts.

[Associated Press]

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