Jim Edmonds drove in four runs with a homer and a double and made another sensational catch atop the centerfield wall, leading the visiting St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-3 victory Saturday over the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cardinals’ first victory in six games at Great American Ball Park kept them in first place in the NL Central. They started the day tied with Houston.
St. Louis also got back its leadoff hitter. Fernando Vina was activated off the disabled list and singled in four at-bats. Vina had been out since he tore a tendon connected to his right hamstring May 25, requiring surgery.
Brett Tomko (11-8) beat his former team for the first time in five career starts, giving up three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Tomko was bitter when the Reds traded him to Seattle in 2000 in the deal for Ken Griffey Jr.
Edmonds hit a two-run homer in the first off Aaron Harang (3-2) to get the Cardinals rolling.
Edmonds also had a two-run double off the left-field wall in the third and came around on Tino Martinez’s single to right.
For the second consecutive game, Edmonds perfectly timed his jump and made a spectacular catch atop the 8-foot wall in center, saving runs and the Cardinals’ momentum.
Marlins’ Lowell breaks hand
All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after breaking his left hand, a huge blow to the Florida Marlins’ playoff hopes.
Lowell was hit by Montreal’s Hector Almonte’s pitch Saturday night. Lowell was taken for X-rays, which showed a broken bone.He leads the surprising Marlins with 32 homers and 105 RBIs, both career highs, and is hitting .277 this season.
Florida entered the day tied with Philadelphia for the NL wild-card lead.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Atlanta 13 at Pittsburgh 6
W: Ramirez (9-4)
L: Perez (4-8)
Rookie Mike Hessman hit a 2-run homer in only his second start for the Braves, keying a seven-run third inning. Javy Lopez and Mark DeRosa had two-run doubles in the third.
San Francisco 2 at Arizona 1
W: Williams (6-3)
L: Johnson (4-7)
S: Worrell (30)
Barry Bonds and Rich Aurilia homered off Randy Johnson. Johnson got his 1,500th strikeout with the D’backs. He has 189 career double-digit strikeout games, 2nd only to Nolan Ryan’s 215.
Montreal 3 at Florida 4
W: Pavano (11-11)
L: Hernandez (14-8)
S: Looper (25)
Carl Pavano pitched eight-plus solid innings to pick up his fifth victory in his last six decisions and Juan Encarnacion drove in four runs. Livan Hernandez lost for the first time in six starts.
San Diego 6 at Houston 11
W: Fernandez (2-3)
L: Jarvis (4-7)
S: Wagner (37)
Lance Berkman and Morgan Ensberg homered, and Jared Fernandez allowed 1 run on 5 hits in 6 innings. Kevin Jarvis lasted 5 1/3 innings allowing 7 runs on 7 hits. He lost his 5th straight decision.
Philadelphia 4 at N.Y. Mets 2
W: Wolf (13-9)
L: Glavine (9-12)
S: Mesa (23)
RBI singles by Mike Lieberthal and Jason Michaels broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning finished Tom Glavine, who allowed 11 hits. Randy Wolf handcuffed Mets on 6 hits and 2 runs for 7 innings
St. Louis 6 at Cincinnati 3
W: Tomko (11-8)
L: Harang (3-2)
S: Isringhausen (16)
Brett Tomko has given up the most hits, runs and homers in the NL, but prevented Reds from putting together a big rally. In Cards’ last 7 losses, they’ve allowed foes to have 1 big inning.
Colorado 0 at Los Angeles 5
W: Mota (4-2)
L: Stark (2-3)
Jeromy Burnitz’s 2-run single keyed 4-run 6th. Guillermo Mota got the victory in relief of Kazuhisa Ishii. Ishii, activated from DL , worked 5 innings and allowed 3 hits in 1st start since July 29.
