Thursday, April 11, 2002
Cardinals 6, Brewers 5
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS — Eduardo Perez's home run cut came earlier in the at-bat. When he connected for the game-winning shot in the 11th inning of the St. Louis Cardinals' 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, he was choking up on the bat.
Perez hit a 2-2 pitch from Luis Vizcaino (1-0) over the wall in left-center field with one out in the 11th to give the Cardinals their second straight victory in the three-game series by the same score. St. Louis rallied from a five-run deficit.
“On the 2-0 pitch I tried to at least get a ball that I could drive and it fooled me,” Perez said. “The 2-2 pitch I choked up and was just trying to put it in play. It gives you a better opportunity to put more of the meat of the bat on the ball.”
It was the first hit of the season for Perez, who had been 0-for-7 in a reserve role. He was halfway around the bases before realizing the ball was gone.
“I was like 'Please, nobody catch it, and hopefully it'll be a double,”' Perez said. “Then I saw the umpire at third base and he had his hands up and I was like 'Really? I'll keep running till they stop me.”'
Edgar Renteria tied it in the ninth with a two-out, RBI single off Mike DeJean. Renteria's third hit of the game completed the Cardinals' comeback from a 5-0 deficit in the third.
“That's a hellacious comeback,” manager Tony La Russa said. “It only happens if the offense keeps playing and the bullpen pitches lights-out.”
Jason Isringhausen (1-0) worked around leadoff hits in the 10th and 11th for his first victory with the Cardinals, one night after getting his first save. He struck out three in two innings.
Richie Sexson hit a three-run homer, his second, in the first inning for the Brewers.
Eli Marrero, who began the season 11-for-15 for the Cardinals, was hitless in three at-bats with a double-play ball and strikeout. Marrero, whose start was the best since Texas' Brian Downing also went 11-for-15 in 1991, was removed in a double switch in the sixth inning.
Brewers starter Glendon Rusch worked 6 2-3 innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out seven and retired his last nine batters before being replaced by Nelson Figueroa due to a 112-pitch count.
“It's frustrating that my team gave me a five-run lead and I gave four of them back,” Rusch said. “It would have been nice to keep it at 5-0 and not put so much pressure on the bullpen.”
Rusch also helped himself with an RBI single off the glove of second baseman Placido Polanco in the third.
In the home opener, Rusch threw the Brewers' first complete game by a left-hander in more than four years. He also hit his first career home run in that victory.
Sexson, who hit 45 homers last year, entered the game batting .160 before connecting on a belt-high fastball from Andy Benes in the first. Jose Hernandez added an RBI single in the third as the Brewers made it 5-0.
“When you figure you have a game won and end up losing it, that hurts more than most losses even though they all count the same,” manager Davey Lopez said. “It just eats at you a little differently.”
The Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the third on J.D. Drew's RBI single, Albert Pujols' grounder that was bobbled by third baseman Tyler Houston for an error and a double-play ball by Marrero. St. Louis cut the gap to a run in the fourth on Drew's two-out RBI single — the last hit off Rusch.
Benes threw 87 pitches in three-plus innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with four walks. In two starts this season, Benes, who had a 7.38 ERA last year and didn't pitch after Aug. 30, has given up nine runs in seven innings.
“It's tough because he's trying so hard,” La Russa said. “You can just see it, he's grinding and grinding and grinding.”
There were some boos after Benes walked the hitter after Sexson's homer, Alex Ochoa, on four pitches. He got out of a bases-loaded jam later in the first by striking out Rusch.
Notes: Rusch walked none in his previous two outings, spanning 16 innings. When he walked Mike DiFelice with two outs in the second, it was his first free pass since Oct. 3 against the Pirates. ... Albert Pujols, who was 9-for-27 in a season-opening seven-game hitting streak, was 0-for-4 with an RBI groundout. ... Renteria is 6-for-13 for his career against Rusch after singling twice in four at-bats. ... The Cardinals' bullpen retired 12 straight batters before Mark Loretta singled with two outs in the eighth.
Reds Stories
Sullivan: West's decision to stay rare treat
West: Next year could be XU's best
DAUGHERTY: Augusta reins in big shots
Beefed-up No. 18 promises new excitement
Duval close but no jacket
Old champions phased out at Augusta
Norman surprised to be back
Masters Notebook: Price is right on par-3 course
Masters Tee Times
Masters Champions
Munoz unsure where she'll land
Tulsa prep Azubuike to sign with UK today
Davis grabs 3 Miami honors
Chicago 3, Ducks 2
Coming up this week
Riots strengthened Basnight's resolve
Bengals check out potential picks
UC bats bash Xavier 12-1
UC's Peek nominated for awards
Cincinnati high school highlights
Cincinnati high school results
N.Ky. high school highlights
N.Ky. high school results
• Return to Reds front page...
Cardinals 6, Brewers 5 
