D-Backs Bash Cards

Rick Ankiel struck out seven of the first nine men he faced. Then the wheels fell off in a big way. Arizona battered Ankiel and the Cardinal bullpen, and thrashed the Cards 17-5. The 17 runs and 19 hits are the most St. Louis has allowed this year. The Diamondbacks scored six runs off Ankiel, then touched Mark Thompson for four, all unearned, and lit up Alan for seven runs, six earned, in three innings. Jim Edmonds and Ray Lankford homered for the Cardinals. Arizona drilled four home runs, including two by Danny Bautista. The Cardinals go back on the road tonight, opening a three game series in New York against the Mets. Pat Hentgen will start against New York’s Al Leiter, who is 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA.