Howard's slam leads Phils; Cardinals lose Ankiel

[May 05, 2009]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Ryan Howard hit his seventh career grand slam, tying Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt for the Philadelphia Phillies record, in a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night that included a frightening injury to Rick Ankiel.

The Cardinals' outfielder crashed headfirst into the fence after chasing down a line drive to the gap in the eighth inning. He flashed a thumbs-up sign as he was carted off the field strapped to a gurney and wearing a neck brace.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said after the game that Ankiel was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Dr. George Paletta, the team physician, told La Russa the outfielder showed signs of whiplash and had signs of puffiness in his face.

Joe Blanton (1-2) allowed a run in six innings for his first win since Sept. 26 while giving Philadelphia's rotation only its fifth win this year. Jayson Werth added a two-run shot for the Phillies, who chased Kyle Lohse (3-1) with one out in the fifth for his shortest outing since Aug. 12, 2008.

Joe Thurston had three hits and an RBI for the Cardinals, who have lost two straight at home after winning nine in a row.

Howard hit a 1-1 pitch from Lohse well over the right-field wall, an estimated 428 feet, for his fifth homer in the fifth inning to put the Phillies ahead 6-1. It was his second slam of the season after connecting off the Nationals' Shairon Martis last Monday in Philadelphia, and it came only three pitches after Lohse got a visit from trainer Barry Weinberg for an undisclosed ailment.

Howard, who was born in St. Louis and attended Missouri State University, is batting .383 (23 for 60) with seven homers and 28 RBIs at 4-year-old Busch Stadium. He and the Cardinals' Albert Pujols, who was 0 for 3 with a walk, each have two grand slams to tie for the major league lead.

The Phillies have hit four grand slams overall and are an NL-best 14 for 27 with the bases loaded, while leading the majors with 11 bases-loaded walks and 46 RBIs.

Lohse pitched for the Phillies in the 2007 playoffs, then signed a free-agent deal with the Cardinals during spring training in 2008.

Blanton, who entered with an 8.41 ERA, allowed four hits in six innings and worked out of a couple of jams. The Cardinals left two on twice and then left the bases loaded in the sixth.

Ankiel ran full speed to track down Pedro Feliz's drive and couldn't stop himself from slamming into the padded outfield wall.

The converted pitcher took 2 1/2 off-balance steps after making the catch and had the presence of mind to take the ball out of his glove before attempting to brace himself with his left arm. Still, his head appeared to absorb most of the blow when he smacked into the fence.

Ankiel stayed flat on his back for several minutes as teammates gathered around him, and the game was delayed about 15 minutes as a hush fell over Busch Stadium.

Ankiel was placed in a neck brace and strapped to a gurney before being carted off the field accompanied by Paletta and trainer Barry Weinberg. As he was wheeled off the field, Ankiel flashed a thumbs-up sign.

Notes: The Phillies have come from behind in 11 of their 13 victories. ... Lohse entered 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA against the Phillies in five career starts. He's allowed 15 runs this season, eight of them in the fifth. ... The Phillies have 24 homers in 16 games at new Busch.

[Associated Press; By R.B. FALLSTROM]

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