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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) -- Rick Wilkins returned to the majors just in time
for Rick Ankiel.
Wilkins, recalled from Triple-A Memphis earlier Friday, had a
calming affect on the rookie Ankiel, who pitched perhaps his finest
game of the season to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 12-1
victory over the Houston Astros.
Ankiel (7-5) tied his career high with 11 strikeouts and allowed
only three hits over seven innings as he ended a personal two-game
losing streak.
|  | | Rick Ankiel tied his career high with 11 strikeouts, but more importantly he got back on the winning track. |
"It's kind of hard to remember sometimes how young he is,"
manager Tony La Russa said. "He is still learning and improving.
"With him it's all about command. Wilkins did a real good job
of getting him to use his curveball and mixing in a couple of
changeups."
Ankiel walked only three as he won for the first time since June
20 against San Francisco.
"I think this was close to my best game," Ankiel said. "I was
able to keep my rhythm and throw strikes. I've worked with
(Wilkins) before. He did a good job of helping me keep my focus."
Wilkins, a veteran of 10 years who signed a minor league
contract with the Cards in the off-season, was impressed with the
21-year-old left-hander.
"He stayed aggressive and was throwing strikes," Wilkins said.
"He was hitting his spots with his sinker and giving those guys
fits.
"All I was doing was helping him with some minor mechanics and
slowing him down a little, keeping him in rhythm. He gets revved up
in a hurry and wants to go get the batters. You've just got to calm
him down a little."
It wasn't calming for the Astros.
"He had great stuff and he had the luxury of getting a lead,"
Houston manager Larry Dierker said. "Even when he walked a few
guys, he didn't have to get upset with that lead."
"He hit his spots and he threw well," Astros second baseman
Craig Biggio said. "He has a good future. He's got some good
stuff.
"He threw a lot harder tonight than he threw (against us) in
St. Louis. Tonight he was throwing 95 and 96 and was hitting his
spots and he was getting ahead."
Edgar Renteria drove in four runs to pace the offense for the
Cardinals, who stopped a three-game losing streak.
Scott Elarton (9-4) had a five-game winning streak snapped,
losing for the first time since June 16. Elarton allowed five runs,
only three earned, on seven hits and three walks with no strikeouts
in 3 1/3 innings.
The Cardinals scored first when Fernando Vina led off the game
with a single to right and scored on Thomas Howard's double to
left-center. Fernando Tatis' single drove in Howard for a 2-0 lead.
Jeff Bagwell hit his 24th home run to make it 2-1 in the bottom
of the first.
The Cardinals chased Elarton in the fourth when Renteria drove in Ankiel, who reached on an error by Biggio, with a single.
Jim Edmonds doubled to right to drive in Vina.
Jeff Slusarski relieved and Renteria scored on an infield out by
Howard to make it 5-1.
In the fifth, Ankiel's single off the left-field wall drove in
Eduardo Perez. One out later, Renteria's three-run homer -- his
career-high 12th -- made it 9-1.
Perez led off the seventh with a first-pitch home run, his third
of the year. After Wilkins walked and Ankiel singled, Vina doubled,
making it 11-1.
Game notes
Bill Spiers leads the Astros with eight pinch-hits and is
hitting .348 (8-for-23) as a pinch-hitter ... Friday's attendance
of 42,811 was the largest ever at Enron Field. It also was the
fourth consecutive home sellout and 19th this season ... Renteria,
who tied a career-high, also had four RBI April 11 against
Houston. ... Ankiel also struck out 11 on May 25 against Florida
and June 4 against Cleveland. ... The loss was the most-lopsided
this season for the Astros.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Chi. White Sox 8
Boston 5
Kansas City 4
Detroit 0
NY Yankees 11
Tampa Bay 1
Baltimore 9
Toronto 5
Minnesota 2
Cleveland 1
Anaheim 12
Oakland 3
Seattle 12
Texas 3
Chicago Cubs 4
Milwaukee 2
Montreal 7
Florida 3
Pittsburgh 9
Philadelphia 2
Arizona 5
Cincinnati 4
Atlanta 6
NY Mets 3
St. Louis 12
Houston 1
San Diego 5
Colorado 1
Los Angeles 6
San Francisco 5
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