Jason Marquis (12-4) lasted six innings and won his ninth straight decision to lead the Cardinals to a 6-2 win over the Mets at Busch Stadium Sunday. Marquis lasted six innings and gave up one run off five hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Dan Haren relieved Marquis in the seventh inning and went 2 2/3 innings, while Julian Tavarez got the final out of the game to earn his third save. Edgar Renteria got the first of his five hits with an RBI double in the first inning to tie the game 1-1. Reggie Sanders was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to break the tie and Sol Taguchi belted a two-run double to make it 4-1. St. Louis added two more runs with RBI’s from Scott Rolen and Larry Walker in the fourth inning. It was Walker’s first RBI since joining the Cardinals on Saturday. St. Louis has won 16-of-20 games and extended the lead in the National League Central to 11 ½ games over the Cubs… Albert Pujols is in a lot of pain but will just live with it. Pujols told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he has a tremendous amount of pain in his left heel and may need surgery during the off-season.
