GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ST LOUIS (69-72) at CINCINNATI (64-79)

NL: ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 1
CINCINNATI 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 x 7 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: STL - MARK MULDER, TROY PERCIVAL (5TH), TYLER JOHNSON (7TH), JASON
ISRINGHAUSEN (8TH) AND YADIER MOLINA

CIN - MATT BELISLE, JARED BURTON (8TH), DAVID WEATHERS
(9TH) AND DAVID ROSS

HOME RUNS: STL - DAVID ECKSTEIN (3) OFF MATT BELISLE IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
RYAN LUDWICK (12) OFF MATT BELISLE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

CIN - ADAM DUNN (37) OFF MARK MULDER IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
ADAM DUNN (38) OFF MARK MULDER IN THE 3RD, 3 ON</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 1
CINCINNATI 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 x 7 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: STL - MARK MULDER, TROY PERCIVAL (5TH), TYLER JOHNSON (7TH), JASON
ISRINGHAUSEN (8TH) AND YADIER MOLINA

CIN - MATT BELISLE, JARED BURTON (8TH), DAVID WEATHERS
(9TH) AND DAVID ROSS


WP - MATT BELISLE (8-8)
LP - MARK MULDER (0-2)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: STL - DAVID ECKSTEIN (3) OFF MATT BELISLE IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
RYAN LUDWICK (12) OFF MATT BELISLE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

CIN - ADAM DUNN (37) OFF MARK MULDER IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
ADAM DUNN (38) OFF MARK MULDER IN THE 3RD, 3 ON


TIME: 2:38 ATT: 14,027

PROBABLES: STL - MIKE MAROTH (0-4, 11.01)
CIN - BRONSON ARROYO (8-14, 4.40)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (2) VS CINCINNATI (7) - FINAL

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .298
R Ankiel rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .303
A Pujols 1b 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .321
J Edmonds cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .243
R Ludwick lf 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .256
Y Molina c 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 .279
A Miles 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .304
M Mulder p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .500
a-B Barden ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Cairo ph-3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .118
B Ryan 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Isringhausen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 33 2 8 2 2 6 12

a-flied out to center for M Mulder in the 5th; b-grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop for T Percival in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - Y Molina (13, D Weathers). HR - D Eckstein (3, 1st inning off M
Belisle 0 on, 0 Out), R Ludwick (12, 4th inning off M Belisle 0 on, 2 Out). RBI
- D Eckstein (28), R Ludwick (41). 2-out RBI - R Ludwick. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Cairo 1. GIDP - J Edmonds. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - R Ankiel (2, fly ball). DP: 2 (A Pujols-D Eckstein-A Pujols 2).



CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Keppinger ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .345
J Cantu 1b 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 .435
K Griffey Jr rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .283
B Phillips 2b 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .287
A Dunn lf 3 2 2 5 1 0 0 .266
B Coats lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Encarnacion 3b 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 .286
J Hamilton cf 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 .295
D Ross c 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .200
M Belisle p 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .068
J Burton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Votto ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .467
D Weathers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 7 7 5 5 7 14

a-struck out swinging for J Burton in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - K Griffey Jr (24, M Mulder). HR - A Dunn 2 (38, 2nd inning off M
Mulder 0 on, 1 Out, 3rd inning off M Mulder 3 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Dunn 5 (101).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Encarnacion 1, J Keppinger 1, M
Belisle 1. GIDP - K Griffey Jr 2. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: E - A Dunn (6, bobble). DP: 2 (B Phillips-J Keppinger-J Cantu, J
Cantu-J Keppinger-B Phillips-J Keppinger).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 100 100 000 -- 2
CINCINNATI - 016 000 00x -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mulder (L, 0-2) 4 7 7 5 3 2 2 12.37
T Percival 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.18
T Johnson 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.67
J Isringhausen 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.74

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
M Belisle (W, 8-8) 7 6 2 2 2 5 2 5.31
J Burton 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.68
D Weathers 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.44

HBP - J Cantu (by M Mulder). Pitches-strikes: M Mulder 79-52; T Percival
22-16; T Johnson 29-18; J Isringhausen 13-10; M Belisle 103-66; J Burton 19-13;
D Weathers 21-14. Ground balls-fly balls: M Mulder 5-5; T Percival 0-3; T
Johnson 1-2; J Isringhausen 0-1; M Belisle 10-5; J Burton 1-1; D Weathers 0-3.
Batters faced: M Mulder 22; T Percival 6; T Johnson 5; J Isringhausen 3; M
Belisle 27; J Burton 4; D Weathers 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

T--2:38. Att--14,027.
Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, right to
left.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
ST LOUIS 2
CINCINNATI 7 FINAL</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST LOUIS (2) AT CINCINNATI (7) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein homered to left. R Ankiel struck out swinging.
A Pujols walked. J Edmonds grounded into double play, second to shortstop to
first, A Pujols out at second.(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 2ND: B Phillips popped out to second. A Dunn homered to right.
E Encarnacion singled to left. J Hamilton struck out swinging. D Ross singled
to left, E Encarnacion to second. M Belisle struck out swinging. (1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 1.

CINCINNATI 3RD: J Keppinger flied out to left. J Cantu walked. K Griffey Jr
doubled to deep right, J Cantu to third. B Phillips walked. A Dunn homered
to center, J Cantu, K Griffey Jr and B Phillips scored. E Encarnacion walked.
J Hamilton singled to left, E Encarnacion to second. D Ross flied out to left.
M Belisle safe at second on error by right fielder R Ankiel, E Encarnacion and
J Hamilton scored. J Keppinger lined out to left. (6 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error)
ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 7.

ST LOUIS 4TH: A Pujols flied out to center. J Edmonds grounded out to
second. R Ludwick homered to left center. Y Molina singled to right. A Miles
grounded into fielder's choice to second, Y Molina out at second. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ST LOUIS 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 1
CINCINNATI 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 x 7 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: STL - MARK MULDER, TROY PERCIVAL (5TH), TYLER JOHNSON (7TH), JASON
ISRINGHAUSEN (8TH) AND YADIER MOLINA

CIN - MATT BELISLE, JARED BURTON (8TH), DAVID WEATHERS
(9TH) AND DAVID ROSS


WP - MATT BELISLE (8-8)
LP - MARK MULDER (0-2)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: STL - DAVID ECKSTEIN (3) OFF MATT BELISLE IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
RYAN LUDWICK (12) OFF MATT BELISLE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

CIN - ADAM DUNN (37) OFF MARK MULDER IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
ADAM DUNN (38) OFF MARK MULDER IN THE 3RD, 3 ON


TIME: 2:38 ATT: 14,027

PROBABLES: STL - ANTHONY REYES (2-13, 5.61)
CIN - BRONSON ARROYO (8-14, 4.40)</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ST LOUIS (2) AT CINCINNATI (7) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

St Louis Starting Lineups -- D Eckstein SS, R Ankiel RF, A Pujols 1B, J Edmonds CF,
R Ludwick LF, Y Molina C, A Miles 2B, B Ryan 3B, M Mulder LHP.

Cincinnati Starting Lineups -- J Keppinger SS, J Cantu 1B, K Griffey Jr RF,
B Phillips 2B, A Dunn LF, E Encarnacion 3B, J Hamilton CF, D Ross C, M Belisle RHP.

Umpires -- Ed Hickox (HP), C.B. Bucknor (1B), Joe West (2B), Ed Rapuano (3B).


Gametime Weather: 76 degrees, Clear, wind right to left at 10 mph.


ST LOUIS 1ST: D Eckstein homered to left. R Ankiel struck out swinging.
A Pujols walked. J Edmonds grounded into double play, second to shortstop to
first, A Pujols out at second.(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 1ST: J Keppinger grounded out to second. J Cantu singled to
right. K Griffey Jr grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first,
J Cantu out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 0.

ST LOUIS 2ND: R Ludwick singled to left, R Ludwick to second on error by
left fielder A Dunn. Y Molina grounded out to second, R Ludwick to third.
A Miles grounded into fielder's choice to first, R Ludwick out at home. M Mulder
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 2ND: B Phillips popped out to second. A Dunn homered to right.
E Encarnacion singled to left. J Hamilton struck out swinging. D Ross singled
to left, E Encarnacion to second. M Belisle struck out swinging. (1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 1.

ST LOUIS 3RD: B Ryan lined out to third. D Eckstein singled to shallow
right. R Ankiel grounded into fielder's choice double play, second to
shortstop to first to shortstop, D Eckstein out at second, R Ankiel to first,
R Ankiel out at second attempting to advance on play. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 1.

CINCINNATI 3RD: J Keppinger flied out to left. J Cantu walked. K Griffey Jr
doubled to deep right, J Cantu to third. B Phillips walked. A Dunn homered
to center, J Cantu, K Griffey Jr and B Phillips scored. E Encarnacion walked.
J Hamilton singled to left, E Encarnacion to second. D Ross flied out to left.
M Belisle safe at second on error by right fielder R Ankiel, E Encarnacion and
J Hamilton scored. J Keppinger lined out to left. (6 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error)
ST LOUIS 1, CINCINNATI 7.

ST LOUIS 4TH: A Pujols flied out to center. J Edmonds grounded out to
second. R Ludwick homered to left center. Y Molina singled to right. A Miles
grounded into fielder's choice to second, Y Molina out at second. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.

CINCINNATI 4TH: J Cantu hit by pitch. K Griffey Jr grounded into double
play, first to shortstop to first, J Cantu out at second. B Phillips flied out
to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.

ST LOUIS 5TH: B Barden hit for M Mulder. B Barden flied out to center.
B Ryan grounded out to second. D Eckstein walked. R Ankiel flied out to center.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.

CINCINNATI 5TH: T Percival relieved M Mulder. A Dunn fouled out to first.
E Encarnacion struck out swinging. J Hamilton flied out to center. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.

ST LOUIS 6TH: A Pujols flied out to left. J Edmonds struck out swinging.
R Ludwick struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2,
CINCINNATI 7.

CINCINNATI 6TH: D Ross struck out looking. M Belisle struck out swinging.
J Keppinger lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2,
CINCINNATI 7.

ST LOUIS 7TH: Y Molina singled to center. A Miles struck out swinging.
M Cairo hit for T Percival. M Cairo grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop,
Y Molina out at second. B Ryan grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.

CINCINNATI 7TH: M Cairo at third base. T Johnson relieved T Percival.
J Cantu walked. K Griffey Jr grounded into fielder's choice to first, J Cantu
out at second. B Phillips lined out to left. A Dunn walked, K Griffey Jr to
second. E Encarnacion popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.

ST LOUIS 8TH: J Burton relieved M Belisle. B Coats in left field.
D Eckstein lined out to center. R Ankiel grounded out to second. A Pujols
singled to left. J Edmonds struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.

CINCINNATI 8TH: J Isringhausen relieved T Johnson. J Hamilton struck out
swinging. D Ross lined out to left. J Votto hit for J Burton. J Votto struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.

ST LOUIS 9TH: D Weathers relieved J Burton. R Ludwick flied out to right.
Y Molina doubled to center. A Miles popped out to second. M Cairo fouled out
to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ST LOUIS 2, CINCINNATI 7.</div>

 

NL: ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">ST LOUIS (2) VS CINCINNATI (7) - FINAL

ST LOUIS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D Eckstein ss 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .298
R Ankiel rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .303
A Pujols 1b 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .321
J Edmonds cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .243
R Ludwick lf 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .256
Y Molina c 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 .279
A Miles 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .304
M Mulder p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .500
a-B Barden ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
T Percival p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Cairo ph-3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .118
B Ryan 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .321
T Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Isringhausen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 33 2 8 2 2 6 12

a-flied out to center for M Mulder in the 5th; b-grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop for T Percival in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - Y Molina (13, D Weathers). HR - D Eckstein (3, 1st inning off M
Belisle 0 on, 0 Out), R Ludwick (12, 4th inning off M Belisle 0 on, 2 Out). RBI
- D Eckstein (28), R Ludwick (41). 2-out RBI - R Ludwick. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - M Cairo 1. GIDP - J Edmonds. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - R Ankiel (2, fly ball). DP: 2 (A Pujols-D Eckstein-A Pujols 2).



CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Keppinger ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .345
J Cantu 1b 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 .435
K Griffey Jr rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .283
B Phillips 2b 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .287
A Dunn lf 3 2 2 5 1 0 0 .266
B Coats lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Encarnacion 3b 3 1 1 0 1 1 2 .286
J Hamilton cf 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 .295
D Ross c 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .200
M Belisle p 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .068
J Burton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Votto ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .467
D Weathers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 7 7 5 5 7 14

a-struck out swinging for J Burton in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - K Griffey Jr (24, M Mulder). HR - A Dunn 2 (38, 2nd inning off M
Mulder 0 on, 1 Out, 3rd inning off M Mulder 3 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Dunn 5 (101).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Encarnacion 1, J Keppinger 1, M
Belisle 1. GIDP - K Griffey Jr 2. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: E - A Dunn (6, bobble). DP: 1 (B Phillips-J Keppinger-J Cantu).


----------------------------------------------------
ST LOUIS - 100 100 000 -- 2
CINCINNATI - 016 000 00x -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mulder (L, 0-2) 4 7 7 5 3 2 2 12.37
T Percival 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.18
T Johnson 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.67
J Isringhausen 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.74

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
M Belisle (W, 8-8) 7 6 2 2 2 5 2 5.31
J Burton 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.68
D Weathers 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.44

HBP - J Cantu (by M Mulder). Pitches-strikes: M Mulder 79-52; T Percival
22-16; T Johnson 29-18; J Isringhausen 13-10; M Belisle 103-66; J Burton 19-13;
D Weathers 21-14. Ground balls-fly balls: M Mulder 5-5; T Percival 0-3; T
Johnson 1-2; J Isringhausen 0-1; M Belisle 10-5; J Burton 1-1; D Weathers 0-3.
Batters faced: M Mulder 22; T Percival 6; T Johnson 5; J Isringhausen 3; M
Belisle 27; J Burton 4; D Weathers 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

T--2:38. Att--14,027.
Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 10 mph, right to
left.</div>

 

Dunn blasts Reds past Cardinals

<h3>CINCINNATI 7, ST LOUIS 2</h3>By Gary Schatz
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


CINCINNATI (Ticker) - Adam Dunn watched St. Louis Cardinals leadoff man David Eckstein's fly ball to left field reach thestands in the first inning and must have smiled at the thoughtof how the ball carried.


Dunn hit a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, to leadthe Cincinnati Reds to a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals onMonday in the opener of a three-game series.


Dunn launched a 367 foot solo home run off St. Louis starterMark Mulder in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. Thatshot was dwarfed by a crushing blow in the third. That blastcarried 104 feet farther with the bases filled with Reds andbroke the game open.


The seventh grand slam of Dunn's career highlighted a six-runthird inning and put a serious hitch in the stride of thedefending World Champions, who have fought to get back in theNational League Central Division race.


Dunn's fourth multi-home run game gave him 38 on the season andmore importantly the five RBI gave him 101 for the season, thethird time in his career he has reached the 100 mark. His careerhigh is 102 set in 2004.


The Reds used fielding gaffes by Rick Ankiel to score thedeciding six runs in the third.


Jorge Cantu walked with one-out in the inning. Ken Griffey Jr.lifted a fly to deep right that was drifting toward centerfield. Ankiel took his eye off the ball to look for Jim Edmondsbut the ball feel to his side.


Griffey was awarded a double and Mulder then walked BrandonPhillips on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Dunn then hit aone-strike offering off the railing of the riverboat on top ofthe batter's eye in center.


Mulder's inability to throw strikes continued. Edwin Encarnacionwalked and Josh Hamilton singled. Reds starter Matt Belisle hitthe first pitch high and hard to right but it was a routinechance. Ankiel got his feet tangled and the ball fell from hisglove as two Reds run crossed the plate.


Mulder (0-2) allowed seven run - five earned - on seven hits andthree walks in four innings.


Belisle (8-8) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. Hewalked two and struck out five in recording his third straightwinning decision.

 

Dunn blasts Reds past Cardinals

<h3>CINCINNATI 7, ST LOUIS 2</h3>By Gary Schatz
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


CINCINNATI (Ticker) - Adam Dunn watched St. Louis Cardinalsleadoff man David Eckstein's fly ball to left field reach thestands in the first inning and must have smiled at the thoughtof how the ball carried.


Dunn hit a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, to leadthe Cincinnati Reds to a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals onMonday in the opener of a three-game series.


Dunn launched a 367 foot solo home run off St. Louis starterMark Mulder in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. Thatshot was dwarfed by a crushing blow in the third. That blastcarried 104 feet farther with the bases filled with Reds andbroke the game open.


"Mulder always pitches me inside. I was looking for somethinginside," Dunn said. "I didn't hit it that well but the ball wasreally carrying tonight. I really don't care how far I hitthem. The second one I knew I hit good. The only reason I careif they go way out is so Jim Edmonds doesn't reach and catchthem."


Edmonds has robbed Dunn more than once in the past. "Hispresence in the lineup, every time he comes to the plate, youhave a chance to see how hard he can hit it," Cincinnati interimmanager Pete Mackanin said. "Major leaguers see those as athing of beauty, whether an opponent does it or not. They justenjoy it more when a guy on your side does it."


The seventh grand slam of Dunn's career highlighted a six-runthird inning and put a serious hitch in the stride of thedefending World Champions, who have fought to get back in theNational League Central Division race.


With the loss, the Cardinals (69-73) fell four games behind theMilwaukee Brewers (74-70) in the National League CentralDivision race.


Dunn's fourth multi-home run game gave him 38 on the season andmore importantly the five RBI gave him 101 for the season, thethird time in his career he has reached the 100 mark. His careerhigh is 102 set in 2004.


"I think those things take care of themselves," Dunn said. "Youjust need to stay healthy."


Last September, Dunn struggled. He hit just two home runs andhad only five RBI. He matched those numbers tonight.

"Last year the last two months killed me," Dunn said. "I startedslow but I'm going to take advantage of the last two monthsthis year. I don't know what it is but since the All-Star breakI've been more relaxed."


The Reds used fielding gaffes by Rick Ankiel to score thedeciding six runs in the third. Jorge Cantu walked with one-outin the inning. Ken Griffey Jr. lifted a fly to deep right thatwas drifting toward center field. Ankiel took his eye off theball to look for Jim Edmonds but the ball feel to his side.

"On the first one, I lost it for a second," Ankiel said. "I sawJimmy and didn't know if he knew where it was. Then I saw himgive up on it."


St. Louis manager Tony La Russa blamed the veteran Edmonds.

"It was Edmonds' ball," La Russa said. "Jimmy didn't takecharge." Griffey was awarded a double and Mulder then walkedBrandon Phillips on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Dunn thenhit a one-strike offering off the railing of the riverboat ontop of the batter's eye in center.


"I just dropped it," Ankiel said. "I alligator-armed it. Ishould have caught it."


"In this ballpark to give up extra outs?" La Russa said. "Wegave up two of them. That's a bigger story than Mulder'spitching."


Mulder's inability to throw strikes continued. Edwin Encarnacionwalked and Josh Hamilton singled. Reds starter Matt Belisle hitthe first pitch high and hard to right but it was a routinechance. Ankiel got his feet tangled and the ball fell from hisglove as two Reds run crossed the plate.


Mulder (0-2)allowed seven run - five earned - on seven hits and three walksin four innings. He was reinstated from the disabled list onSeptember 5 and making just his second start since recoveringfrom shoulder surgery performed on September 12 of last year.

"I felt OK. I needed to make better pitches that inning. Ididn't do that," Mulder said. "There are pitches that are toughto throw where I want to when I want to. I had a decent changeup. I made pitches in the other innings. I need to make betterpitches with runners on base."


Belisle (8-8) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. Hewalked two and struck out five in recording his third straightwinning decision.


Belisle was sent to Class AAA Louisville in August afterstarting the season in the Reds rotation.


"It was a wake up call," Belisle said. "I'm making lessmistakes out over the plate. If I miss, I miss off the plate. Ilove my job. The only way to keep it is to be moreconsistent."


"When he got the lead he focused," Mackanin said. "He didn'tlet them take the lead back."