Rolen Drives In 6 As Cards Crush Bucs

The Cardinals scored ten runs in the eighth inning to top the Pirates 13-5. Scott Rolen got things going for St. Louis in the eighth with a bases-loaded double and ended the rally with a two-run single. Rolen finished with a career-high six RBI’s last night. Edgar Renteria and Tino Martinez drove in two apiece. Martinez his 14th home run of the season. Jeff Fassero didn’t get the decision, pitching five innings and allowing four runs off five hits. Cal Eldred was the winner in relief, giving up one hit and no runs in the eighth inning. The Cardinals didn’t gain any ground on the first-place Astros, but they did leapfrog the Cubs into second place in the National League Central. St. Louis trails Houston by one game. Albert Pujols agreed to begin his two-game suspension for his tussle with the Padres last month. He picked a good time to do it. Pujols wasn’t going to play anyways, as continues to battle the flu.