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LaRue, Ankiel homer as Cardinals pound Pirates

Aug 21, 2008 - 5:01 AM By James Walsh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Jason LaRue drove in three runs and Todd Wellemeyer turned in five solid innings as the St. Louis Cardinals cruised to an 11-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Seven different players drove in runs for the Cardinals, who evened their record against Pittsburgh at 7-7.

LaRue, a last-minute replacement for catcher Yadier Molina due to a left foot contusion, drove in the Cardinals' first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and smashed a two-run homer in the seventh to cap the scoring.

"Obviously, I know my role, but every day I come to the ballpark ready to play just in case something happens," LaRue said.

Skip Schumaker continued his hot hitting with three hits and an RBI while scoring three runs. The Cardinals' leadoff batter is hitting .467 (14-for-30) over his last seven games.

Rick Ankiel added a two-run home run, his 24th, and Albert Pujols had two hits and drove in two runs.

"A lot of good at-bats up and down the lineup," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "A lot of clutch hitting. Todd was working real hard, so that was a nice cushion to give him."

Wellemeyer (11-4) allowed two runs and five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. The 29-year-old remained unbeaten in his last eight starts, improving to 4-0 since the All-Star break.

"It was a battle tonight," said Wellemeyer, who threw 65 of 95 pitches for strikes. "The changeup wasn't really working, but I made some pitches when I had to. When they know what you have, you have to make sure you keep them on their toes."

Four relievers combined to hold the Pirates scoreless over the last four innings.

Ryan Doumit collected three hits for the second straight night and was a triple shy of the cycle. He accounted for Pittsburgh's only runs, lacing a two-run homer in the third.

"(The cycle) was the last thing on my mind," said Doumit, who is hitting .538 against St. Louis. "We lost 11-2, it doesn't matter how good anybody does at the plate tonight."

Pittsburgh starter Jason Davis (1-3) was ineffective in 3 2/3 innings. The 6-6 righthander, who had allowed two runs over 13 innings in his first two starts, was tagged for eight runs - six earned - nine hits and three walks.

"(Davis) left some balls over the plate and they took advantage of it," Pittsburgh manager John Russell said. "He was throwing the ball well, he just couldn't make his pitches tonight. His location wasn't as good and the command of his fastball wasn't as sharp. A few too many mistakes."