Martinez’s Performance Wasted in Extra-Innings Loss

The Cardinals are trying to figure out when the 2003 Reds turned into the Big Red Machine. They’ve lost seven of eight to Cincinnati in 2003. Last night they fell 7-4 in 14 innings despite a heroic performance from Tino Martinez. He hit a home run in the bottom of the eight to tie the game at 2-2. In the ninth he came to the plate again and tied it at 4-4 with a two-run blast. The game moved to extra innings and it remained deadlocked until Kelly Stinnet laced a two-run single off Jeff Fassero in the top of the 14th. The Reds added another tally for the 7-4 final. Fassero dropped to 0-3 on the season. The loss moved the Cardinals two games out of first in the N.L. Central, which is led by the Cubs. St. Louis trails Houston by one game.