Sat Sep 6 22:16:26 2008

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Wellemeyer hurls Cards over Fish

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Todd Wellemeyer threw a season-high eight solid innings, and Albert Pujols slugged a two-run home run, as St. Louis edged Florida, 5-3, in the second of three meetings with the Marlins.

Wellemeyer (12-6) gave up three runs -- all on a pair of homers -- and five total hits, walked one and struck out seven to earn the win.

Ryan Ludwick added a pair of hits, while Felipe Lopez drove in a pair for the Cardinals, who had lost six of seven. St. Louis still trails Milwaukee in the NL wild card race by six games, after the Brewers edged San Diego, 1-0, on Saturday.

Scott Olsen (6-10) took the loss after surrendering four runs on five hits and three walks in six frames. Josh Willingham and Dan Uggla each homered for the Marlins, who had won three of four.

In the home first, Troy Glaus worked a one-out walk and scored when Pujols followed with his 31st home run of the season to give St. Louis a 2-0 edge.

Willingham's leadoff homer in the third inning, got a run back for Florida, and the Marlins went in front in the next frame.

Jorge Cantu doubled with one out, and after a ground out, Uggla smacked the ball over the left field fence for his 30th homer of the season and a 3-2 Marlins edge.

But the Cardinals tied the game in the home half, on Lopez's RBI single that plated Ludwick, who had singled and moved to second on a groundout.

Pujols began the bottom of the sixth with a walk and advanced to second on a fly out. Yadier Molina's base hit to center plated Pujols to put St. Louis back in front. Lopez's sacrifice fly in the eighth plated Ludwick, who had doubled and was bunted over to third.

Randy Flores started the ninth for the Cardinals and got one out before Ryan Franklin came on to work around a hit-batsman and end the game for his 15th save of the season.

Game Notes

Uggla was the first of Florida's starting infielders to reach the 30-homer mark. Mike Jacobs and Hanley Ramirez each have 29, while Cantu has posted 23...The Cardinals left six runners on base while the Marlins stranded four...St. Louis leads the season series, 4-2.