The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have taken the first two games of their weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals, downing the Redbirds 9-3 on 18 hits Saturday night at Busch Stadium.
The Angels jumped out in front in the 2nd inning on Garrett Anderson’s third home run of the season, a 387-foot two-run shot to right field. Los Angeles then enjoyed a big inning in the 3rd, scoring four runs off Redbirds’ starter Braden Looper, two of them on a bases loaded double by Angels’ starting pitcher Ervin Santana, as they batted around.
The Cards finally got on the board in the 5th inning on a solo home run by Juan Encarnacion, his fourth home run of the year, a 368-foot blast to left field, which extends his hitting streak to ten games.
The Cards drew to within three in the 6th as they scored twice, with both runs coming on a two-run homer by Jim Edmonds, a 398-foot smash to right center field for his 7th roundtripper of the season. But they could draw no closer. L.A. added three runs in the 9th to put the game out of reach.
Santana (5-6) picked up the win for the Angels. Cards’ starter Braden Looper (6-5) took the loss.
The Cardinals (26-33) and Angels (40-23) close out their weekend series Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium. Todd Wellemeyer (1-1) goes to the mound for the Cards against Jared Weaver (5-3) for the Angels.
Download/Listen Manager Tony LaRussa’s post game comments (1:00 MP3)