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Looper leads Cardinals over struggling Rockies

May 7, 2008 - 5:18 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) - St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa may want to consider batting Braden Looper a bit higher in the lineup the next time the veteran righthander takes the mound.

Looper connected for two hits, including an RBI double, scored a run and pitched into the ninth inning in the Cardinals' 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night in the second of a four-game series at Coors Field.

"They've got a great lineup so you really have to be careful with a lot of their guys," Looper said after the longest outing of his career. "It took a couple innings (to get comfortable). I started feeling better in the third, started making better pitches. I gave up a fair share of hits, but a lot of those were good pitches."

Ryan Ludwick went 4-for-4 with two doubles and Rick Ankiel added a solo home run and two spectacular putouts from center field for the Cardinals, who have won three straight games and six of their last seven contests.

"I don't believe he did it. I want to see the replay," La Russa said of the power throws by Ankiel. "(The first) one, everybody on our side had never seen anything like it. Two? I can't remember a dugout getting a bigger kick. That just doesn't happen."

The Rockies rallied for three runs in the ninth but Ryan Franklin held on to pick up his first save in three attempts this season.

But the show was all Looper (5-1), a long-time reliever who worked his way into the starting rotation in 2007. Looper was not overpowering but he remained in control, surrendering four runs and 10 hits with no walks and one strikeout over 8 1/3 frames.

Batting in the eighth spot, Looper also triggered a two-out scoring spurt in the second inning with a double to the center field wall. He then kept the third inning alive with a hard-hit RBI single and drew a walk to lead off the sixth.

"That's just bonus. Usually I'm happy to bunt," said Looper, who leads the team with a .385 batting average (5-for-13). "We'll see how long that lasts. I'll probably go 0-for-6 or something."

Chris Iannetta homered and drove in three runs and starter Mark Redman (2-3) failed to get through the third inning for the Rockies, who have lost 13 of their last 16 games.

In another poor outing from Colorado's reeling starters, Redman was shelled for five runs on nine hits and a walk over 2 2/3 innings.

"We've gone a little sideways," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said.

Franklin staved off the Rockies' late rally try, but only before putting the tying run on second base.

"I wasn't scared, wasn't worried," Franklin said. "I just knew I had to make a pitch. I knew what the score was."