Ankiel and Pujols power Cards past LA

The St. Louis Cardinals are taking advantage of every opportunity they get.  They got eight solid innings from Chris Carpenter and timely hitting from Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel as St. Louis beat the Dodgers 3-2 Monday night.

First, I’ll start with Carpenter.  I’m telling you this guy has to be considered for the Cy Young.  When he’s on the mound, he’s going to give the Cardinals a chance to win.  He wiggled out of a first inning jam.  After giving up a single to Rafael Furcal and a one out double to Andre Either, Carpenter had to walk Manny Ramirez.  A sac fly to right field scored Furcal, but Ludwick was able to throw at Either at third ending the inning on a double play.

In the fifth, Matt Kemp led off with a double and scored on James Loney’s single, but he was stranded at second as Carpenter got a strikeout around two pop ups.  Carpenter finished his eight innings with eight strikeouts.

Albert Pujols tied the game in the fourth with his 39 ^th homer of the year.  After the Dodgers went back on top in the fifth, Rick Ankiel provided the heroics in the seventh.  With the exception of Pujols’ homer, Dodgers’ starter Charlie Haeger was mowing down the Redbirds, but with one out, he hit Ryan Ludwick.  Ankiel made him pay with his ninth homer of the year.

Trevor Miller pitched to one batter in the ninth, and Ryan Franklin got the final two outs for his 30 ^th save.  His ERA is now 1.16. 

The Cubs lost at San Diego, increasing the Cardinals’ lead to six.