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 The Cardinals scored four runs while batting around in the first
inning, and Garcia gave up only one run and four hits in six innings
in a 9-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on
Tuesday.
"We were talking about that the other day -- it's a good feeling
when you get to hit in the first inning," Garcia said. "It means
something good is happening. It's always good to score runs."
St. Louis right fielder Jason Heyward drove in two runs and scored
twice, and his two-run single sparked the four-run first as Garcia
(6-4) dropping his ERA to 1.77 in 13 starts around two stints on the
disabled list this season.
Catcher Yadier Molina and shortstop Jhonny Peralta drove in two runs
apiece and center fielder Tommy Pham had three hits and scored three
times as the Cardinals (80-45) won their third straight.
Garcia, who struck out six and walked one, improved his career
record against Arizona to 5-0 while striking out six and walking
one.
"This is a tough ball park to pitch in, and they have a really good
lineup over there," Garcia said.
"They have some of the best hitters in the league going. It's always
a tough challenge for me. A lot of preparation that went into it. I
was able to keep us in the ball game."
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt had two of Arizona's seven hits,
including a ground rule double that stuck in the padded portion of
the right-center field fence in the fourth inning.
Arizona third baseman Aaron Hill drove in Goldschmidt with a
sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. Hill has 16 hits in his last 47
at-bats.
Left-hander Robbie Ray (3-10) suffered his sixth straight loss as
the Diamondbacks (62-63) lost their second straight after winning
the previous four.
"They jumped on him," Arizona manager Chip Hale. "That is easy to
see, but we made some mistakes again behind him on defense. We let
them get some extra bases. You just can't do that with a team like
this."
Cardinals pinch-hitter Peter Bourjos hit his third homer of the
season in the seventh inning to break an 0-for-20 slide.
St. Louis third baseman Matt Carpenter walked, was hit by a pitch
and scored twice. He left in the sixth inning, two innings after
being hit in the right elbow.
"It hit him in a bad spot," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who
indicated the injury did not appear to be serious.
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Six of the first seven hitters reached base when the Cardinals took
a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Carpenter walked and Pham singled to right field, and they ended at
second and third after a late throw to third base. After Heyward's
two-run single, Miolina and second baseman Kolten Wong singled to
make it 4-0.
Carpenter and Pham did it again in the fourth inning, when Carpenter
took third base on a single to right and Pham cruised into second
behind him. Peralta and Molina followed with sacrifice flies for a
6-0 lead.
"A lot of life on the bases all day," Matheny said. "Jaime's stuff
was sharp again, you could tell by the swings. A good day all the
way around."
NOTES: St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong had two hits and drove in a run in
his return to the lineup after sitting out the previous two games.
... Arizona RHP Jhoulys Chacin will remain in the rotation and make
his second start of the year Saturday, manager Chip Hale said.
Chacin gave up three runs (two earned) in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-3
loss Monday, his first appearance in the majors since June 28, 2014,
with Colorado. RHP Randall Delgado will return to the bullpen, Hale
said, and could be a candidate to start one game of a Sept. 1
doubleheader in Colorado. Delgado gave up six hits and four runs in
a spot start Aug. 22, lasting 2 1/3 innings in his first start of
the season. ... Arizona RHP Evan Marshall visited with teammates in
the clubhouse three weeks after suffering a fractured skull when by
was struck by a line drive while with Triple-A Reno El Paso.
Marshall underwent emergency surgery to alleviate swelling and
bleeding on the brain. He is in out-patient therapy at Barrow
Neurological Institute in Phoenix and is not expected to return to
the mound this season.
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