ST. LOUIS (AP) -Ryan Ludwick hit his second home run of the game off Dan Wheeler in the 10th inning, allowing the St. Louis Cardinals to recover after squandering a four-run cushion in a 9-8 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
Albert Pujols also homered and had two RBIs a day after his 42-game streak of reaching base ended, helping the Cardinals win for only the third time in 11 games. The AL East-leading Rays lost for just the second time in 10 games.
Ludwick hit the first pitch from Wheeler (0-3) with one out in the 10th an estimated 402 feet over the wall in left-center for the second winning homer of his career. He has four career two-homer games, including two this season.
Ryan Franklin (2-1) allowed two walks in two scoreless innings.Pirates 7, Cubs 6
CHICAGO (AP) - Nate McLouth hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Carlos Marmol in the ninth to help Pittsburgh overcome Alfonso Soriano's second straight two-homer game.
Freddy Sanchez beat shortstop Ryan Theriot's throw to first on a grounder up the middle with one out before McLouth's drive off Marmol (1-1) helped Pittsburgh win for the ninth time in 12 games.
Matt Capps gave up a two-out RBI single to Ryan Theriot after Soriano doubled for his fifth hit of the game, but retired Derrek Lee on a fly to right for his 10th save.
Damaso Marte (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth.Mets 7, Yankees 4
NEW YORK (AP) - Johan Santana (5-2) pitched into the eighth inning and the Mets got home runs from Jose Reyes and David Wright to top the Yankees 7-4 Saturday in the opener of a rain-shortened Subway Series.
Billy Wagner got four outs for his ninth save in nine chances - one day after manager Willie Randolph held a closed-door meeting in response to remarks by the closer that some perceived as critical of his teammates.
After clearing the air, the Mets clocked reliever Kyle Farnsworth. They got key throws from outfielders Ryan Church and Carlos Beltran, beating Andy Pettitte (3-5) after Friday night's scheduled game was rained out.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
