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Cards keep plugging in chase

Cards keep plugging in chase

Posted: Friday, July 27, 2012 7:00 pm

By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Somehow, the St. Louis Cardinals dropped a half-game in the standings on a 6-1 homestand. As manager Mike Matheny reminds players, if they keep this up good things have to happen.
David Freese and Matt Carpenter each had three of St. Louis’ season-high 18 hits as the Cardinals handed the Los Angeles Dodgers their second straight setback since acquiring Hanley Ramirez, 7-4 Thursday.
“It’s not like we really beat ourselves,” losing pitcher Chris Capuano said. “It’s a scrappy ballclub over there.
“They’re the World Champions for a reason.”
The Cardinals answered the Dodgers’ four-run fifth with four runs in the bottom half and Matt Holliday added his 17th homer in the sixth. They’re 51⁄2 games back in the NL Central but answered a 1-5 trip to open the second half with a combination of strong starting and offense that scored seven or more runs in four of the wins.
“You guys get tired of hearing it, but I just think this is the team we are,” Matheny said. “I think they believe that, too. It would be nice to ride it for a few months.”
Obtained a day earlier from Miami, Ramirez started at third base and batted fifth for the second straight game. He had an infield hit, two walks and a steal, and grounded into a double play. The 2009 NL batting champion is 2 for 6 with three walks an RBI with his new team but the Dodgers are 0-2 since the trade and have lost three in a row overall.
“He’s a tough out and he does a good job of putting the barrel on the bat,” Jake Westbrook said after working seven or more innings for the third straight start. “He definitely makes their lineup that much tougher, so it’s good to get a couple wins with him in there.”
Matt Holliday hit his 17th homer for St. Louis, which fell behind 4-2 by allowing four runs in the fifth and then scored four in the bottom half. Allen Craig and Tony Cruz each had two hits and an RBI.
Freese left the game with cramping in his right calf for a pinch hitter in the sixth, an inning after getting a bit of medical attention following a two-run single for the go-ahead hit. He was 11 for 20 on the homestand.
Matt Kemp had an infield hit and was 2 -for-16 with seven strikeouts and no RBIs in the series.
“I feel like we had a good game plan,” said Cruz, the St. Louis catcher. “Me and Yaddy (Molina) watched a lot of video and our pitchers made their pitches.”
Westbrook allowed four runs — three earned — and seven hits with six strikeouts.
He responded after the Dodgers’ four-run fifth, allowing a hit and walk the last two innings.
Published in The Messenger 7.27.12