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Ward's grand slam powers Cubs past Cardinals

Aug 19, 2007 - 2:07 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Daryle Ward's grand slam highlighted a five-run third inning and lifted the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-3, on Saturday.

Ward's blast was his first home run of the season and gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead. The grand slam was the third of his career and first since 2002, when he was a member of the Houston Astros.

Sean Marshall (6-6) shut down the Cardinals, surrendering just two runs on five hits over five innings.

"It was a big game," said Marshall, who withstood a pair of rain delays. "It was a good win for me and the team. It was a long game with the rain delays but definitely a good one to win."

The righthander, who was 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA in his three August starts, walked one but didn't register a strikeout as the Cubs remained atop the National League Central by one game over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Four relievers bridged the gap to Ryan Dempster, who pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save of the season.

"It's a nice win for us," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "It's great clutch hitting by Ward with the bases loaded. Reyes got one up in the zone and Ward got just enough of it to get it out."

Marshall worked out of trouble in the second inning, getting Brendan Ryan to fly out with runners at second and third with two outs.

The Cubs followed the Cardinals' threat by giving Marshall all the support he needed in the third inning.

After Cardinals starter Anthony Reyes hit Jason Kendall with a pitch to lead off the inning, Marshall followed by striking out on a failed bunt. Kendall advanced to second on a passed ball before Ryan Theriot walked to put runners on first and second with one out.

Reyes nearly got out of the inning when Jacque Jones hit a ground ball to Ryan at second base. However, Jones beat shortstop David Eckstein's relay throw to first to keep the inning alive.

Derrek Lee capitalized by plating Kendall with a a single to right field for a 1-0 lead. After a walk to Aramis Ramirez loaded the bases, Ward crushed Reyes' 1-1 offering, a hanging off-speed pitch, to center field as the Cubs lead bulged to five.

"I just hung that pitch to Ward," Reyes said. "I tried to bury a curveball; unfortunately I hung it."

Ward was elated about his first home run as a member of the Cubs.

"When I first hit the ball, it was a breaking ball up where I wanted it," Ward said. "I hit it and I knew I hit it well but the wind was blowing so hard, I didn't know if it would go out. When I saw it hit the basket I just raised my hands up because I was so excited to get my first one here."

Reyes (2-12) allowed five runs - all in the third inning - on four hits over six innings. The righthander struck out four and walked two as the Cardinals fell four games behind the first-place Cubs in the NL Central.

"I think hitting the leadoff guy screwed him (Reyes) up a bit," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It came down to just not getting the third out. He made a good pitch to Lee and that was a base hit. Then he made a mistake to Ward and that cost us four runs."

The Cardinals scored three times in the game, all on solo home runs. Juan Encarnacion hit his eighth home run of the season in the fourth inning, and Ryan followed with his fifth blast of the campaign in the fifth inning.

With the Cardinals trailing, 5-2, in the eighth inning, Albert Pujols stroked his 27th home run of the season but St. Louis did not get any closer as it dropped the second game of the four-game series.

"What it boils down to is how you compete," La Russa said. "We can't compete any harder than that. If we keep playing like that, we will be fine."