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.
