So much for Carlos Beltran’s hitting slump. The Cardinals outfielder had a career night driving in seven runs with a pair of three-run home runs and RBI single in the first three innings, as the Cardinals beat down A.J. Burnett and the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-3 Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.
Rookie Lance Lynn (5-0) is the first five-game winner in the National League and joins James Shields as the major leagues’ only five-game winners. Not bad for a guy filling in for Chris Carpenter, out with nerve issues in his right shoulder. Lynn allowed three hits and two runs in 6.2 innings with six strikeouts.
Beltran hit his team leading seventh homer of the season. He also has 18 RBIs. Beltran was signed in December as a replacement bat in the lineup with the departure of Albert Pujols. So far the numbers suggest the Cardinals are certainly getting a better deal than the Angels.
Beltran: .279, 7 HR, 18 RBI
Pujols: .208, 0 HR, 5 RBI
