Sports Network | July 31, 2010
St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) – Jeff Suppan finally got his coveted first win of the season, pitching 5 1/3 shutout innings to lead the Cardinals to an 11-1 win over the Pirates.
Suppan (1-6) earned his first victory since September 19, 2009, going 26 appearances between wins. He scattered five hits while striking out five without walking a batter in St. Louis’ fourth win in six games.
Albert Pujols and Colby Rasmus both homered for the Cardinals, who acquired starting pitcher Jake Westbrook from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday while sending outfielder Ryan Ludwick to San Diego. Pujols finished with three hits, as did Yadier Molina.
Jeff Clement clubbed a pinch-hit homer for the Pirates, who have lost three straight and seven of nine. Daniel McCutchen (1-5), recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, allowed four runs — three earned — on six hits and six walks in 5 2/3 frames to receive the loss.
Suppan helped himself in the second by driving in the game’s first run.
Matt Holliday drew a leadoff walk and scampered to third on Yadier Molina’s one-out single. Skip Schumaker walked on four pitches to load the bases for Suppan, whose single to right plated Holliday.
With a chance to score more, Brendan Ryan grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Suppan gave up multiple baserunners in the first and third, but kept the Pirates off the board, and the Cardinals grabbed a 2-0 lead when first baseman Garrett Jones committed a throwing error on Suppan’s ground ball in the fourth, allowing Rasmus to score from second.
Pujols’ solo shot in the fifth increased the lead to three, and Ryan’s sacrifice fly in the sixth made it 4-0.
Rasmus’ two-run homer in the seventh built up the margin. Clement’s homer in the top of the eighth cut the gap to 6-1.
The Cardinals added five more in the home eighth. Wilfredo Ledezma allowed two singles and a walk to quickly load the bases, and Holliday’s double two batters later scored two runs. Rasmus singled home another run, and Sean Gallagher came in from the bullpen and loaded the bases again by walking Molina. Schumaker increased the lead to 11-1 with a two-run single.
The Pirates made three separate trades on Saturday, receiving catcher Chris Snyder, shortstop Pedro Ciriaco, pitcher James McDonald, outfielder Andrew Lambo, pitcher Joe Martinez and outfielder John Bowker while shipping out pitcher Octavio Dotel, pitcher Javier Lopez, shortstop Bobby Crosby, outfielder Ryan Church and pitcher D.J. Carrasco…The Cardinals lead the season series, 4-1…St. Louis retired number 24 in honor of Whitey Herzog, who was enshrined in Cooperstown earlier this month…Rasmus established a new career-high with his 17th home run.