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Wellemeyer, Cardinals muzzle Marlins

Aug 15, 2008 - 3:06 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Todd Wellemeyer pitched 7 2/3 innings of three-hit ball and Ryan Ludwick added all the support he needed with a home run and double as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Florida Marlins, 3-0, on Thursday.

Wellemeyer (10-4) struck out three and walked four. The righty threw 67 of 112 pitches for strikes. At one point, Wellemeyer retired 13 consecutive batters.

"I wish I could have went nine [innings], but I was pretty tired out there," Wellemeyer said. "It's a good team and I kept the ball down on them."

The Cardinals won three games in the four-game series while holding the Marlins to 10 runs.

"There is a lot in common between the two clubs," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "A lot of dangerous hitters, but good pitching stops good pitching in the big leagues."

Cardinals relievers Russ Springer and Ron Villone each recorded an out before handing it over to Ryan Franklin, who got the final two outs.

The Cardinals led 1-0 after an RBI double by Ludwick in the fourth scored Cesar Izturis.

Izturis led off the seventh with a single and two batters later, Ludwick drilled a 1-0 offering from Scott Olsen over the left-centerfield scoreboard for his 30th homer.

"It was a good night," Ludwick said. "I fell on top of a pitch, finally, in that last at-bat and it felt good."

Olsen (6-8) pitched seven innings, allowing three runs and 10 hits. He struck out six and pounded the strike zone throwing 75 of 106 pitches for strikes. Olsen continues to pitch well at home with a 2.98 ERA compared to a 5.67 ERA on the road.

"I'm happy about the outing," Olsen said. "I kind of second-guessed the pitch selection there with the home run. It was down, but it was middle. I don't know if it was the right pitch. Overall, it was okay."

The Marlins' best opportunity to score came in the third when Wellemeyer walked the bases loaded, but Mike Jacobs flied out to end the inning.

"It was a clutch performance by Todd to shut this club down," La Russa said. "What he did very impressive."

It was the third time in the past 10 games the Marlins have been shut out.

"It's real frustrating," Jacobs said. "You can only give credit to their pitchers so much. We just have haven't been doing it with the bats. It's definitely frustrating when we can't find the big hit that we need."