Cards Hammer Reds 11-3

(Saturday, September 1st) Final Score: St. Louis 11, Cincinnati 3 St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Rick Ankiel, Jim Edmonds and Yadier Molina each drove in three runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to an 11-3 thumping of the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium. Molina homered, ending 3-for-4, and Ankiel also finished 3-for-4 and scored twice for the Cardinals, who have won the first two games of this three-game set and remain two games behind Chicago in the NL Central. The Cubs downed the Astros, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon. Edmonds went 2-for-4 and Brendan Ryan went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for St. Louis, which scored a total of nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings to put the game out of reach. Adam Wainwright (13-9) tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on six hits to win his third straight decision. The right-hander walked three and struck out three, improving to 7-2 over his last 11 starts. Adam Dunn went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Reds, who have lost four of six. Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, the Cardinals went ahead for good by putting up a four spot. With the bases loaded and one out, Ryan Ludwick grounded into a fielders choice, forcing out the runner at second, and scoring the tying run. Edmonds then followed with a double scoring two more runs and forcing Reds starting pitcher Phil Dumatrait from the game. Marcus McBeth came on and was greeted by Molinas RBI single to make the score 5-2. St. Louis put the game way with a five-run sixth. Ankiel came through with a two-run double, Edmonds singled home a run, Albert Pujols scored on a passed ball, and Molinas groundout allowed Ludwick to score the final run of the inning. Ankiel added a sacrifice fly to plate Aaron Miles in the seventh for an 11-2 lead. Dunn scored the final run for the Reds, touching the plate in the eighth on a sac fly by Scott Hatteberg. Dumatrait (0-3) was recalled from Triple-A Louisville prior to the game and suffered the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. The two teams exchanged second-inning runs. David Ross doubled home Dunn for the Reds, while Molina answered with a homer in the bottom of the frame. Dunn put Cincinnati in front in the third, singling home Jeff Keppinger with the bases loaded. Game Notes Molina has six HRs this season...Prior to the game, the Cardinals announced that outfielder Juan Encarnacion will miss the remainder of the season because of a serious eye injury he suffered when he was struck in the eye by a foul ball while in the on-deck circle during Fridays game against Cincinnati. Encarnacion remains in a St. Louis hospital with multiple fractures of his left eye socket...As a result of the incident, the Cardinals moved their on-deck circle more behind the batters box to avoid any future incidents. However, the club did not move the visitors on-deck circle.