Sat Jul 19 00:27:32 2008

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Molina carries Cardinals over Padres; unlucky 13 for Maddux

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St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Yadier Molina broke a tie with a two-run single in the eighth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres, 11-7, extending Greg Maddux's winless streak to 13 starts.

Rick Ankiel was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, while Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with two runs scored as five Cardinals had multi-hit games. That included Ryan Ludwick, who also homered as part of the 17-hit attack.

Maddux, who allowed eight hits and six runs over four innings, has lost his last five decisions going back to May 16. The 13 straight starts without a win for the four-time Cy Young Award winner ties a career high, also accomplished during the 1990 season.

Kyle McClellan (2-4) walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief as St. Louis won its third consecutive game.

"Our stars have been so good all year long," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "(McClellan) had an efficient inning. I guarantee you he was grinding out there. It was very good for him and good for us -- we need him."

Braden Looper allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out two over three-plus innings for the Cardinals. After his rocky start, five St. Louis relievers combined to hold the Padres to one run on four hits and two walks while striking out eight in the final six innings.

Heath Bell (6-4) was rocked for four runs on four hits and two walks in just one inning of relief while the rest of the San Diego bullpen allowed just one run on five hits and three walks.

Jody Gerut belted a two-run homer and Khalil Greene added a solo shot for the Padres, who have lost four in a row and seven of their last nine.

Ankiel's 22nd homer, a solo blast in the seventh, tied the game for a third time.

The Cardinals took control with four runs in the bottom of the eighth. Pujols hit a one-out single and was followed by a Troy Glaus walk and an Ankiel infield single to load the bases. Molina then poked a low and outside pitch into shallow right field to score Pujols and Glaus as Molina moved to second on a throw to the plate.

"I just think he's immune to the pressure," La Russa said of Molina. "The guy's one of the best in the league."

Bell was chased from the game when pinch-hitter Chris Duncan singled to left two batters later to score Molina. Ankiel was thrown out at the plate on a Cesar Izturis grounder one batter earlier. Cla Meredith, San Diego's sixth pitcher, allowed an Aaron Miles RBI single to score Izturis before walking Skip Schumaker to load the bases. Meredith closed the inning by getting Ludwick, who struck out twice in the inning to bookend the rally.

Jason Isringhausen walked one and struck out one for a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.

Ankiel hit a two-run single in the first, but Greene's ninth home run with one out in the second cut the lead in half.

St. Louis pushed it back to two on a Brendan Ryan RBI groundout in the bottom of the inning.

The Padres tied the game with a two-run third on back-to-back RBI singles by Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff.

The teams then traded three runs in the fourth. Nick Hundley doubled to lead off the top of the inning and scored on an Pujols throwing error one batter later. Maddux reached on a fielder's choice and Hundley scored on Pujols' gaffe that also allowed Maddux to go to third. Gerut followed with his fifth homer for a 6-3 lead.

Ludwick tied the game with a three-run blast, his 22nd, in the home fourth. Ryan and Schumaker scored on the homer after hitting back-to-back two-out singles.

San Diego took the lead for the second time on a Giles RBI single in the sixth to score Gerut, who reached on a one-out base hit.

Game Notes

St. Louis has won four of five in the season series...San Diego recalled Clay Hensley from Triple-A Portland on Friday...St. Louis recalled pitcher Randy Flores from Memphis and activated him from the 15-day disabled list before the game Friday. The team also recalled pitcher Kelvin Jimenez from Memphis while optioning outfielder Joe Mather and pitcher Chris Perez to Memphis.