Diamondbacks eliminated with 12-3 loss to St. Louis

[September 26, 2008]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks completed their late-season fade Thursday with a 12-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, a defeat that clinched the NL West for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arizona (79-80) led the division by 4 1/2 games before play on Aug. 29, then lost 11 of 14 as the Dodgers took control of the division. The Diamondbacks rebounded by winning seven of eight to regain some faint hope before dropping their final three games in a four-game series against the Cardinals.

Albert Pujols had a three-run homer and four RBIs to back Joel Pineiro (7-7), who allowed three runs and three hits over seven innings on his 30th birthday. St. Louis had been eliminated from postseason contention on Tuesday.

Arizona's Mark Reynolds set a major league record when he struck out twice, raising his season total to 201. Philadelphia's Ryan Howard set the previous mark of 199 last year -- and Howard began the day with 196 this season.

Reynolds has 34 errors at third base and could become the first player to lead the majors in errors and strikeouts since Minnesota Twins shortstop Zoilo Versalles (122 strikeouts, 39 errors) during his 1965 AL MVP season.

Pujols (35) and Ryan Ludwick (36) hit consecutive homers in a five-run seventh that opened an 11-3 lead. Troy Glaus walked four times to match his career high, and Felipe Lopez had three hits and two RBIs.

St. Louis had 17 hits and nine walks against Doug Davis (6-9) and five relievers.

Notes: Pineiro struck out twice and sacrificed, leaving him 5-for-51 (.098) at the plate with 35 strikeouts. He had three doubles and four RBIs. ... Diamondbacks outfielders made their first putout in the sixth. ... Glaus' four-walk game was the second of his career, the first since June 9, 2001, against the Dodgers. ... The Cardinals have hit back-to-back homers six times this year, the last two times off Petit. Yadier Molina and Lopez connected off the right-hander on Sept. 2 in Arizona. ... Izturis was 9-for-13 in the series and finished 13-for-25 (.520) against Diamondbacks pitching, while Lopez was 16-for-31 (.516).

[Associated Press; By R.B. FALLSTROM]

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