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Dunn blasts Reds past Cardinals

Sep 12, 2007 - 4:29 AM By Gary Schatz PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CINCINNATI (Ticker) - Adam Dunn watched St. Louis Cardinals leadoff man David Eckstein's fly ball to left field reach the stands in the first inning and must have smiled at the thought of how the ball carried.

Dunn hit a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

Dunn launched a 367 foot solo home run off St. Louis starter Mark Mulder in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. That shot was dwarfed by a crushing blow in the third. That blast carried 104 feet farther with the bases filled with Reds and broke the game open.

"Mulder always pitches me inside. I was looking for something inside," Dunn said. "I didn't hit it that well but the ball was really carrying tonight. I really don't care how far I hit them. The second one I knew I hit good. The only reason I care if they go way out is so Jim Edmonds doesn't reach and catch them."

Edmonds has robbed Dunn more than once in the past. "His presence in the lineup, every time he comes to the plate, you have a chance to see how hard he can hit it," Cincinnati interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "Major leaguers see those as a thing of beauty, whether an opponent does it or not. They just enjoy it more when a guy on your side does it."

The seventh grand slam of Dunn's career highlighted a six-run third inning and put a serious hitch in the stride of the defending World Champions, who have fought to get back in the National League Central Division race.

With the loss, the Cardinals (69-73) fell four games behind the Milwaukee Brewers (74-70) in the National League Central Division race.

Dunn's fourth multi-home run game gave him 38 on the season and more importantly the five RBI gave him 101 for the season, the third time in his career he has reached the 100 mark. His career high is 102 set in 2004.

"I think those things take care of themselves," Dunn said. "You just need to stay healthy."

Last September, Dunn struggled. He hit just two home runs and had only five RBI. He matched those numbers tonight.

"Last year the last two months killed me," Dunn said. "I started slow but I'm going to take advantage of the last two months this year. I don't know what it is but since the All-Star break I've been more relaxed."

The Reds used fielding gaffes by Rick Ankiel to score the deciding six runs in the third. Jorge Cantu walked with one-out in the inning. Ken Griffey Jr. lifted a fly to deep right that was drifting toward center field. Ankiel took his eye off the ball to look for Jim Edmonds but the ball feel to his side.

"On the first one, I lost it for a second," Ankiel said. "I saw Jimmy and didn't know if he knew where it was. Then I saw him give up on it."

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa blamed the veteran Edmonds.

"It was Edmonds' ball," La Russa said. "Jimmy didn't take charge." Griffey was awarded a double and Mulder then walked Brandon Phillips on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Dunn then hit a one-strike offering off the railing of the riverboat on top of the batter's eye in center.

"I just dropped it," Ankiel said. "I alligator-armed it. I should have caught it."

"In this ballpark to give up extra outs?" La Russa said. "We gave up two of them. That's a bigger story than Mulder's pitching."

Mulder's inability to throw strikes continued. Edwin Encarnacion walked and Josh Hamilton singled. Reds starter Matt Belisle hit the first pitch high and hard to right but it was a routine chance. Ankiel got his feet tangled and the ball fell from his glove as two Reds run crossed the plate.

Mulder (0-2) allowed seven run - five earned - on seven hits and three walks in four innings. He was reinstated from the disabled list on September 5 and making just his second start since recovering from shoulder surgery performed on September 12 of last year.

"I felt OK. I needed to make better pitches that inning. I didn't do that," Mulder said. "There are pitches that are tough to throw where I want to when I want to. I had a decent change up. I made pitches in the other innings. I need to make better pitches with runners on base."

Belisle (8-8) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out five in recording his third straight winning decision.

Belisle was sent to Class AAA Louisville in August after starting the season in the Reds rotation.

"It was a wake up call," Belisle said. "I'm making less mistakes out over the plate. If I miss, I miss off the plate. I love my job. The only way to keep it is to be more consistent."

"When he got the lead he focused," Mackanin said. "He didn't let them take the lead back."