The Cardinals put their best record in the National League against the top two teams in the American League. They proved in the six-game series that there is no comparison. St. Louis dropped their sixth straight game – three to the White Sox, three to the Tigers – 4-1 to the Tigers Sunday. Their current skid is the longest since 2002.
Detroit used three runs in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie and send the Cardinals (42-32) home a loser once again. Outfielder Curtis Granderson broke the tie with an RBI double over the head of Jim Edmonds in center field. After Placido Polanco’s double scored Granderson, Ivan Rodriguez singled in Polanco to cap the three-run inning.
Cardinal’s starter Sidney Ponson (4-3) pitched well enough to get the win, but the hard luck pitcher was instead saddled with the loss. He pitched 7.1 innings giving up two runs on six hits before giving way to relievers Randy Flores and Brad Thompson. They were unable to help Ponson, allowing two runs in just 2/3 inning.
Leadoff man David Eckstein had three hits in the game but was stranded each time.
St. Louis got its lone run off an RBI single from Aaron Miles in the second.
During the six game slide, the Redbirds’ lead in NL Central dropped from five games to two over the Reds. The Cardinals return home tonight to face some more AL Central competition. The Indians come to town and are in fourth place in their division.
