Monday, June 04, 2001
Cards get lift from No. 8 hitter
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS — A big game from the No. 8 hitter keyed a Cardinals' comeback Sunday night.
Mike Matheny, batting .216, hit his first home run in nearly two months and doubled to start the winning rally in a 4-3 victory over the Reds.
Matheny, who had been in an 8-for-54 slump with two RBIs since May 1, hit his third homer in the fifth and first since April 8 after Edgar Renteria led off with a checked-swing single for the Cardinals' first hit off Rob Bell. Renteria tied it with an RBI double in the sixth.
Matheny blooped a double between center fielder Ruben Rivera and left fielder Dmitri Young to start the seventh. Pinch runner Eli Marrero went to third on pinch hitter Kerry Robinson's single and scored on Fernando Vina's groundout to first.
“It was a beautiful thing,” Matheny said of his hit. “At this point, I'll take anything that falls in.”
The game was delayed 44 minutes by rain in the fourth inning and it was 61 degrees at the finish.
“I'd hate to ever think we weren't mentally into the game,” Matheny said. “But whenever something like that happens, especially out of someone they don't expect it from, I think it definitely gives you a little bit extra.”
The Cardinals have won two straight after a four-game losing streak, and 17 of 26 overall.
Mark McGwire made his fourth start since coming off the disabled list from a knee injury and was 0-for-3 with a walk to drop his average to .114 (4-for-35). He flied out to the warning track in the first.
Mike Timlin (2-2), the fourth of seven St. Louis pitchers, pitched a perfect seventh. Dave Veres worked the ninth for his eighth save.
“Everybody contributed,” said manager Tony La Russa, who ended the game with only left-hander Jason Christiansen left in the bullpen. “It was one of those games where a lot of guys in the clubhouse feel good.”
In six innings, the relievers gave up no runs on three hits. On Saturday, the bullpen allowed one hit in 4 1-3 scoreless innings.
Cardinals starter Mike Matthews gave up three runs on four hits in three innings. He tried to come back after the rain delay but walked the first hitter, Donnie Sadler, and then was taken out.
In four starts as the replacement for Rick Ankiel, Matthews is 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA.
CARDS NOTES: Matheny has only five multihit games all season. ... LF Ray Lankford got his team-high fourth assist of the season, throwing out Rivera trying for a double in the fifth. ... Left-handed hitters are 4-for-39 against Matthews, including a single by Sean Casey to lead off the fourth. ... Vina is 1-for-14 in the series. ... Jim Edmonds singled in the eighth, but is in an 8-for-60 slump (.133).
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Cards get lift from No. 8 hitter
