Bruce homers twice to lead Reds past Cardinals

[September 30, 2009]  CINCINNATI (AP) -- Jay Bruce homered twice and had a career-high five RBIs to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 on Tuesday night.

The Cardinals, who wrapped up the NL Central title with a 6-3 win at Colorado on Saturday, have lost four of five. Joel Pineiro (15-12) allowed seven runs and eight hits in six innings to fall to 1-3 in his last four starts.

Albert Pujols, who entered with NL record-tying five grand slams this season, just missed another one when he hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth that center fielder Willy Taveras caught just short of the warning track. The Cardinals slugger went 1 for 3, leaving him with a .328 batting average.

David Freese hit his first career homer for St. Louis in the ninth.

Homer Bailey pitched seven solid innings and Joey Votto also connected for the Reds, who have won seven of eight. Brandon Phillips added two hits.

Bailey (7-5) allowed one run and seven hits to earn his first career win against St. Louis. He also improved to 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his last eight starts.

Bruce got Cincinnati off to fast start in the second, hitting a 3-1 pitch into the visitors' bullpen in right for a three-run homer. Phillips led off the inning with an infield single and Scott Rolen followed with a walk.

It was Bruce's 21st homer and second in his last three at-bats. He went deep in the ninth inning Saturday in Houston and grounded out as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning on Sunday.

Votto hit his 24th homer in the third and the Reds added three more in the sixth to make it 6-1. Rolen hit an RBI single before Bruce hit a drive into the seats in right-center.

NOTES: Bruce has five multihomer games in his career, three this season. ... St. Louis 3B Troy Glaus pinch-hit in the seventh inning in his first appearance since being sidelined since Sept. 12 with a strained muscle in his left side. Glaus was activated on Sept. 1 after spending the entire season on the DL while coming back from right shoulder surgery late in spring training. Glaus hit .176 in eight games before his latest injury. ... Cardinals C Yadier Molina has "a great chance" to play in Cincinnati, manager Tony La Russa said. Molina left Saturday's game in Colorado with a bruised left knee. ... Cardinals C Matt Pagnozzi made his major league debut, entering the game in the bottom of the seventh. ... Pete Rose watched part of the game from field-level seats behind the plate. ... Bailey improved to 1-3 with a 7.06 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals.

 [Associated Press]

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