I have nothing to say that Will Leitch didn’t say already.

The National – Racing Like a Pro

Following a lengthy rain delay, the Cardinals roughed up the Pirates for 16 runs on 22 hits. Rick Ankiel continued his tear going 3 for 4 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. Cardinals starter Mike Maroth was yanked in the 2nd after allowing 8 of 13 batters to reach base, but the Cards bullpen was able to stop the bleeding. The same could not be said for the Pirates bullpen which surrendered 11 runs in 5 innings as the Cards pounded the Pirates 16-4.

David Eckstein and Rick Ankiel welcomed Matt Morris back to St. Louis with a pair of doubles to lead off the game as the Cards jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Joel Pineiro was effective pitching for the Cardinals, although he allowed more than his share of Pirates to reach base. With the score tied at 2 in the 3rd, Chris Duncan poked a 2-out bases clearing double down the left field line to put the Cards up for good. Russ Branyan added a solo in the 6th as the Cards cruised to a relatively easy 6-2 victory.

With Albert Pujols getting a much needed day off, Rick Ankiel led the way for the Cardinals – launching a no doubter into the right field bleachers to break a scoreless tie in the 6th. Later that same inning Ryan Ludwick and Aaron Miles combined doubles to make it 2-0. Braden Looper pitched around some early sun-related fielding miscues and cruised through 7 scoreless innings. The Cards added a critical insurance run in the 7th when an audacious stolen base by Brendan Ryan set up an Ankiel sac fly. Cards relievers Ryan Franklin and Jason Isringhausen each allowed the tying run to reach base before pitching out of their respective jams as the Cards held on for a 3-2 win.