Cardinals' 3-run 9th beats Arizona 6-5

[June 29, 2010]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks' defense collapsed in the ninth inning, with two throwing errors allowing three runs to score in the St. Louis Cardinals' 6-5 victory on Monday night.

Closer Aaron Heilman threw wildly to third base trying to catch the lead runner on pinch-hitter Adam Wainwright's sacrifice bunt and one run scored on the play.

First baseman Adam LaRoche bobbled the ball before uncorking a throw in the dirt in an attempt to prevent the tying run from scoring on Skip Schumaker's RBI groundout. Wainwright continued around to score the winning run from second with a triumphant slide.

Jason Motte (3-2) allowed Mark Reynolds' two-run homer in the eighth and worked out of a two-out, two-on jam in the ninth. Heilman (2-2) allowed one run in one-third of an inning.

Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren hit the go-ahead homer in the seventh off Chris Carpenter and shut down the Cardinals until getting pulled after Yadier Molina and Brendan Ryan singled to open the ninth.

Haren hit his second career homer to straightaway center off Carpenter and is batting .435 with seven RBIs.

Carpenter had a testy exchange with manager Tony La Russa in the dugout after the seventh, presumably after the pitcher was told he was done for the night. Carpenter wriggled out of several jams before giving up a two-run, game-tying homer to Adam La Roche with two outs in the sixth. He has allowed 12 homers this season after giving up only seven all last year.

The Cardinals opened the eighth with three straight singles and Felipe Lopez's hit cut the deficit to 5-3 with Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday coming up. After a visit from pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, Haren struck out both of the Cardinals' top run producers, then got Colby Rasmus on a routine fly out.

Reynolds' 18th homer glanced off the top of right fielder Randy Winn's glove at the fence just in front of the Cardinals' bullpen. Reynolds, who has been working with coaches to eliminate a loopy swing, had two hits and a walk after entering the game a .132 hitter in June.

The Diamondbacks were dangerous all game with two outs, getting six of their nine hits, including both homers, and adding five walks and a hit batter.

La Russa was ejected by home plate umpire Mark Carlson in the ninth after arguing a called strike.

NOTES: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns threw out the first pitch. ... Edwin Jackson is on track to start Friday with two extra days' rest coming off his no-hitter, and Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said he'll announce a starter for Wednesday's series finale on Tuesday. ... Cardinals RHP Brad Penny (back) threw his first bullpen session Monday. RHP Kyle Lohse (forearm) played catch for the first time since surgery in late May. "To finally get to officially out there and toss a baseball, it's a good feeling," he said. ... Cardinals RF Ryan Ludwick (calf) missed his fifth start in six games and 3B David Freese (ankle) was not in the lineup. ... Cardinals RHP Blake Hawksworth, who emerged from the bullpen and earned his first victory on Saturday with five innings against the Royals, will start Thursday against the Brewers. ... Molina, who entered the game in a 1-for-32 slump, had two singles and a walk.

[Associated Press; By R.B. FALLSTROM]

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