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 Kolten Wong tied a career high with four hits, Peter Bourjos
homered and the St. Louis Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep with
a 8-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn (12-8) was effective containing
Baltimore's powerful lineup. He limited the Orioles to three runs
with nine hits, six strikeouts and a walk in 5 2/3 innings.
"We walked in here today and that is all the conversation was: we
have to win this one," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We got
to find to a way to get this one. We like having Lance on the mound
in those situations. We felt good about what our offense can do."
Baltimore manager Buck Showalter was ejected in the seventh inning
by second base umpire Jeff Nelson on a reversed call after a
Cardinals challenge.
A replay overruled shortstop Jhonny Peralta being called out after
the ball fell out of Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop's glove
on the transfer. Showalter stormed out of the dugout and was
promptly tossed because a manager can't come onto the field to argue
after a replay ruling.
 "You just want to ascertain whether it's an argument directly
related to the replay result or if it was an unrelated question to
clarify something such as how many challenges someone would have
left or something like that," Nelson said.
Second baseman Wong also scored two runs and Bourjos hit his fourth
homer of the season in the ninth inning. Bourjos, who entered as a
pinch runner in the seventh, connected against Zach Britton, ending
Britton's steak of 27 home appearances without allowing a run.
"They're a good team," Lynn said. "That got some guys that can hit
the ball all the way up and down the lineup. I knew that going into
today it was going to be a grind. I was able to make enough pitches
when I needed to."
Right fielder Nick Markakis tied a season high with four hits for
the Orioles (67-50), giving him 427 multi-hit games in his nine-year
career, fourth best in franchise history.
It was the first time in eight games that Baltimore did not hit a
home run, but the Orioles still lead the major leagues with 147 this
season. Baltimore had nine homers in the first two games against St.
Louis.
The Cardinals managed 17 hits -- 14 singles, two doubles and a home
run.
With the Orioles trailing 4-2 in the sixth inning, a two-out single
by Markakis pulled the Orioles to within a run.
However, a double by designated hitter Matt Carpenter off Andrew
Miller in the eighth inning provided an insurance run for St. Louis
(62-54). Bourjos sealed it with a three-run shot in the ninth.
Baltimore right-hander Kevin Gausman (6-4) allowed three runs and
eight hits with six strikeouts and two walks in just five innings
and 104 pitches. He suffered his first loss since July 20.
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"My last three starts have all kind of been a grind. I've kind of
been battling myself a little bit at times," Gausman said. "I think
part of it is I've been walking some guys in some bad situations.
That's what I tried to do."
The Cardinals opened the game with three straight singles and took a 2-0
on a fielder's choice by first baseman Matt Adams and another base hit
by Peralta. Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones helped minimize the
damage when he threw out Adams trying to score on a fly ball by right
fielder Oscar Taveras.
Designated hitter Nelson Cruz pulled Baltimore within a run in the first
inning with an RBI double down the left-field line. It was his 21st
double this season.
The Cardinals extended the lead to 3-1 in the third inning on a single
by outfielder Jon Jay off Gausman.
"I like that he didn't let the game get away from him completely,"
Showalter said about Gausman. "It's a hot, sticky day after a
challenging two games. A lot of borderline pitches. It wasn't like he
imploded or anything."
After a wild pitch by Lynn allowed Markakis to score from third in the
fifth, third baseman Daniel Descalso answered for St. Louis an inning
later with an RBI single off T.J. McFarland for a 4-2 St. Louis margin.
"It was nice to get that win today and avoid the sweep," Descalso said.
"They had some chances to score. Lance did a good job pitching out of
some jams. We were able to get some big hits when we needed them."
NOTES: Orioles RHP Miguel Gonzalez, who was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk
on Saturday to make room for RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, will start Tuesday for
the Tide. ... Baltimore manager Buck Showalter will go with RHP Bud
Norris, LHP Wei-Yin Chen and RHP Chris Tillman as the starters for the
three-game series with the second-place New York Yankees beginning
Monday. ... Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy was a late scratch because of a
strained left thumb. Ryan Flaherty moved to shortstop and Jonathan
Schoop started at 2B. ... St. Louis RHP Shelby Miller will start the
series opener against the Miami Marlins. Miller has gone 8-3 with a 2.82
ERA in 17 career starts post All-Star break.
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