MLB
  Scores
  Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries: AL | NL
  Players
  Weekly Lineup
  Message Board
  Minor Leagues
  MLB Stat Search

Clubhouses

Sport Sections
  Saturday, Aug. 5 1:15pm ET
Clark new power source for Cards
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Will Clark has homered in his three games with the Cardinals, including his first two at Busch Stadium.

"The batteries have been recharged and there is a hitch in the giddyup," he said Saturday after leading St. Louis past the Atlanta Braves 5-0.

Clark reached base three times with the home run and two walks. He is 6-for-10 since the Cardinals acquired him Monday and loves playing in St. Louis.

Will Clark
He's The Thrill, all right: Will Clark (22) is 6-for-10 with three homers since being acquired by the Cardinals.

"It's what you think summertime baseball is supposed to be," he said. "A little heat, a little humidity and a pennant race. "You know when you run out there and play for the Cardinals that something is on the line, and when I was in Baltimore nothing was on the line at all."

While Clark's three-run homer in the first provided offense, Garrett Stephenson pitched a five-hitter.

"I didn't really care if they hit the ball," he said. "I didn't want to throw too many pitches. I was just going to let them hit it and see what happened."

Stephenson (12-7), winning for just the fourth time since May 29 following an 8-0 start, struck out five and walked one in his second shutout and third complete game this season.

"He kept changing speeds," Javy Lopez said. "When he threw a fastball, it was on the corner. His breaking stuff was inside. He didn't put anything over the plate all day. You couldn't sit on any one pitch."

Stephenson retired his first eight batters and didn't allow any runners past second.

"Stephenson's tough. He changed speeds and his fastball looked like it was 105 miles an hour," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

Clark connected in the first off John Burkett (8-5) after Fernando Vina singled and Jim Edmonds doubled. Clark, who has 12 homers this year, also homered in three straight games for Baltimore from June 30-July 2 and July 20-21.

He has taken over at first for Mark McGwire, who has missed 25 games because of tendinitis in his right knee. The Cardinals are 10-15 since McGwire last played July 6.

Burkett, who had won four of his previous five starts, gave up five runs, seven hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings. Atlanta lost for just the sixth time in 21 games since the All-Star break.

John Rocker, who was booed mildly coming in, pitched the eighth, allowing two walks but no hits.

St. Louis scored a pair of runs in the third after Clark's leadoff walk. J.D. Drew hit an RBI single and scored on Burkett's wild pitch.

Game notes
Keith Lockhart was scratched from Atlanta's starting lineup because of swelling in his right foot. He fouled a pitch off the foot Friday night. ... Brian Jordan is 7-for-19 on the road trip. ... B.J. Surhoff is off to a 3-for-20 start with the Braves. ... Mike Matheny snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a third-inning single. ... Fernando Vina, was hit by a pitch for a major league leading 18th time.
 


ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard

Atlanta Clubhouse

St. Louis Clubhouse


Rocker allegedly bumps cameraman on purpose


RECAPS
Kansas City 7
Boston 5

Toronto 8
Texas 5

Cleveland 6
Anaheim 3

Tampa Bay 5
Baltimore 4

Seattle 6
NY Yankees 5

Detroit 4
Minnesota 3

Chi. White Sox 4
Oakland 3

St. Louis 5
Atlanta 0

Colorado 7
Philadelphia 6

Chicago Cubs 6
San Diego 3

Pittsburgh 7
San Francisco 2

Florida 10
Cincinnati 5

Montreal 10
Houston 9

NY Mets 6
Arizona 2

Milwaukee 4
Los Angeles 2

AUDIO/VIDEO
audio
 Will Clark is recharged in St. Louis.
wav: 53 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 Tony La Russa says it is important for the Cardinals to score early.
wav: 128 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6

 Garrett Stephenson says everything came together for St. Louis.
wav: 86 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6