Jefferson City native Sam LeCure delivers a pitch against the Cardinals in his second major league start.  UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Jefferson City native Sam LeCure delivers a pitch against the Cardinals in his second major league start. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Sam LeCure, a Jefferson City, MO. native was charged with three earned runs in 5.1 innings after the Cardinals managed two runs after LeCure left with the bases loaded in the sixth inning to help give the Cardinals a 4-1 win Wednesday night against Cincinnati moving them back into a tie for first place.

Chris Carpenter moved to 7-1 on the season going eight innings allowing a run on four hits while striking out four.  Carpenter wiggled out of trouble in the seventh.  After a leadoff single to Brandon Phillips, Carp hit Joey Votto and then gave up a single to Scott Rolen, scoring Phillips.  With first and third and nobody out, Rolen got hit on a ball batted by Jay Bruce keeping Votto at third.  Carpenter then came back to get a strike out and a flyout and limit the damage to one run.

LeCure gave up a run in the fourth when he hit Yadier Molina with two outs and then gave up an RBI triple to Brendan Ryan.  LeCure left in the sixth with the bases loaded and only one out and was lucky to only get charged with two earned runs, because the Cardinals could have blown the game wide open.  A sac fly from Skip Schumaker and an RBI single from Ryan Ludwick made it 3-0 at that point.

Matt Holliday would later add the Cardinals’ third run with his sixth homer of the year.  The Cardinals are tied with Cincinnati for first in the NL Central and open a series with Milwaukee tonight.

Missourinet feature on Sam LeCure