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Cards erupt for 18 hits as Dodgers keep plunging

Aug 12, 2007 - 11:08 PM By Jim Walsh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- St. Louis belted out a season-high 18 hits and got four RBI from Ryan Ludwick as the St. Louis Cardinals kept the Los Angeles Dodgers reeling with a 12-2 triumph in 100 degree temperatures on Sunday afternoon.

Each Cardinals starter scored at least once and starter Anthony Reyes pitched six strong innings as St. Louis finished off a 5-2 homestand.

It was the eighth loss in the last 10 games for the Dodgers, who fell 6 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona in the National League West. The Dodgers were in first as recently as July 30.

"We're the same as we've been for a couple of weeks, struggling, struggling, struggling," Los Angeles manager Grady Little said. "It's disappointing because there's a lot of people out there we're depending on that it's just not happening for."

St. Louis hammered Los Angeles starter Mark Hendrickson (4-7) for eight runs and 11 hits in his 2 2/3 innings. It was the shortest outing of the year for the 6-9 lefthander, who has recorded only one victory in his last 12 starts.

"I wasn't executing pitches," Hendrickson said. "I was just making too many mistakes early on, putting us behind. That's not good for us right now given the way we're playing."

Ludwick got the Cardinals on the board in the first with his 10th home run of the season, a 404-foot blast into the upper deck in left, giving St. Louis a quick 3-0 lead.

St. Louis moved within 5 1/2 games of Milwaukee in the National League Central.

"I'm just happy I've been able to contribute in some spots to help the ball club win," Ludwick said. "We've got a good team. Everyone's on each others' backs, patting them, keeping them up."

Los Angeles was able to get two runs back in the second on Andre Ethier's RBI triple followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ramon Martinez.

But the Cardinals answered back in the next frame, sending 10 batters to plate and scoring five runs. St. Louis erupted for seven hits, getting run scoring hits from five different players, including the first career RBI for Reyes.

"It was a game where it was like 120 degrees outside," said Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols who contributed two hits in his four at-bats. "You didn't want to be out there for so long. I'm just glad we came out with a win and win the series, we had a great homestand."

Rookie Brendan Ryan put things out of reach with a two-run homer, giving the Cardinals a 10-2 lead in the fifth. Recalled from Class AAA Memphis to replace the injured Adam Kennedy before the game, the versatile infielder had a career-high three RBI.

"I got here about two hours before the game," said Ryan who started the game at third base. "I got some swings, got some ground balls and was ready to go. I was just trying to get on base and make plays on defense, it worked out all right."

It was some uncharacteristic run support for Reyes (2-11), who came into the game averaging 2.18 runs per nine innings of support, lowest in the majors. The 25-year-old righthander kept the Dodgers' bats quiet, allowing two runs and seven hits, walking one with five strikeouts.

"It's nice," Reyes said. "I'll take it when I can get it but I'm still going to go out there and try to put up zeroes and give the team a chance to win anyway I can."

"We got (Reyes) on the ropes once," Los Angeles outfielder Louis Gonzalez said. "We had him early in the game but we just let it get away there. He's throwing strikes, getting ahead, he got a lead there and he was able to go right at us."

The performance continued a resurgence for Reyes, who was the first Cardinals pitcher this century to start the season with 10 consecutive losses. It was the 10th time this season Reyes gave up three runs or less