Wellemeyer, LaRue lead Cardinals past Pirates

[May 08, 2009]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Todd Wellemeyer threw seven innings of four-hit ball, Jason LaRue hit a go-ahead homer in the fifth and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 on Thursday.

Leadoff batter Skip Schumaker had three hits and scored twice for the Cardinals, who won two straight against the Pirates after opening a four-game homestand with two losses against the Philadelphia Phillies.

St. Louis batted around in a four-run fifth that started with LaRue's first homer of the season. Ross Ohlendorf (3-3) hit Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick in consecutive at-bats, the latter with the bases loaded. Chris Duncan had a sacrifice fly and Khalil Greene singled in a run.

Ohlendorf, who had won his previous three starts, hit only two batters in his first five starts over 31 innings. He departed after six innings trailing 5-1, although he singled up the middle in the third for his first major league hit after an 0-for-18 start.

Robinzon Diaz hit his first career homer and Nate McLouth had an RBI single for the Pirates, who have lost nine of 10. Pittsburgh played the last of its six games in St. Louis, going 3-3.

Wellemeyer (3-2) worked through early wildness that left him with more balls than strikes in the third inning and controlled the Pirates' 3-4-5 hitters, who were 0 for 9. Pittsburgh collected a season-high 17 hits against the Cardinals and Wellemeyer in a 7-4 victory on April 8.

Wellemeyer allowed two runs in seven innings, with three of his four strikeouts coming against No. 8 hitter Brian Bixler. Ryan Franklin worked the ninth for his ninth save in nine chances, and has not allowed a run in 13 1-3 innings this season.

Notes: Pittsburgh's Adam LaRoche is 4 for 23 against Wellemeyer and got a day off. ... The Pirates have lost five in a row on the road. ... Pirates pitchers have allowed a homer in 10 of the last 11 games, with opponents totaling 14 in that span. ... Schumaker is a career .352 hitter (31 for 88) against the Pirates. ... St. Louis' Shane Robinson, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Memphis when Rick Ankiel went on the 15-day disabled list, grounded out to end the eighth in his first career at-bat.

[Associated Press; By R.B. FALLSTROM]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.