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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) -- Streaking Will Clark and the slumping Florida
bullpen made for a mismatch Monday night.
Clark's RBI triple against reliever Armando Almanza sparked a
four-run eighth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied past
the Marlins 5-2.
|  | | Rick Ankiel took a respite from his recent struggles by allowing only three hits and two runs in six innings. He also struck out eight. |
The rejuvenated Clark went 3-for-5 and is batting .386 since
being traded to the NL Central leaders by the Baltimore Orioles on
July 31.
"This is fun, being in the pennant race like this," he said.
"It's very easy to get up every day for these games."
The Marlins led 2-1 in the eighth when manager John Boles
removed starter A.J. Burnett after 105 pitches. Florida's
relievers, including Almanza (4-2), have struggled this month after
leading the major leagues in ERA most of the season.
"Regardless of what anybody in this room thinks, I was trying
to win the game," Boles said. "You've got to use the bullpen,
regardless of what they're doing. You've got to hope it comes
around."
Burnett departed after giving up a leadoff bloop double in the
eighth to J.D. Drew. Clark, batting only .242 against lefties,
tripled off the left-handed Almanza to score Drew with the tying
run.
"The way this game was played, this was as big a hit as Will
has had for us," manager Tony La Russa said. "If he doesn't get
that hit, I don't know if we would have scored."
Craig Paquette followed with an RBI single to put St. Louis
ahead. Edgar Renteria doubled in another run, and Mike Matheny
followed with a run-scoring single against Braden Looper.
Matheny also drove in a run in the fifth with his first triple
in 212 NL games.
"Put a feather in the cap of our offense," Clark said. "We
hung in there. Burnett had great stuff, but we found a way to
win."
Mike James (1-2) pitched a scoreless seventh for his first
National League win and his first major-league victory since Sept.
14, 1997 with Anaheim. He combined with Rick Ankiel, Jason
Christiansen and Dave Veres on a five-hitter.
James said he neglected to get the game ball as a souvenir.
"I'll just grab another ball," he said. "In 20 or 30 years, I
won't know the difference."
Veres pitched the ninth for his 23rd save in 28 chances. The
Cardinals improved to 4-1 on their seven-game trip and remained 8½ games ahead of second-place Cincinnati.
"They're not going to be caught in that division," Boles said.
Burnett, who hit his first big league homer and notched a
career-high 10 strikeouts, didn't complain about Boles' decision to
take him out.
"I respect every call he makes," Burnett said. "I'm not one
to make a big deal out of it."
Burnett's homer came on a 3-2 pitch leading off the third inning
and traveled an estimated 385 feet. He allowed seven hits and two
runs in a duel with another hard-throwing youngster, Ankiel.
"It was cool being out there facing him," Burnett said. "I
wanted to beat him bad."
The Cardinals' rookie gave up only three hits and two runs in
six innings while striking out eight.
"I feel like I'm getting stronger toward the end of the
season," said Ankiel, 21. "Down the stretch is what really
counts."
Game notes
Burnett's homer was the second by a Florida pitcher this
year and the 15th in franchise history. Vladimir Nunez homered
against San Diego on May 2. ... Matheny became the Cardinals'
1,000th strikeout victim in the third. They lead the major leagues.
... Marlins outfielder Mark Kotsay began the week in a 2-for-19
slump. ... The Cardinals' Ray Lankford began the week batting .278
against right-handers and .149 against lefties. ... The Marlins are
9-4 when tied going into the ninth inning.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Florida Clubhouse
RECAPS
Tampa Bay 5
Boston 2
Cleveland 5
Texas 2
Toronto 4
Anaheim 2
Oakland 3
Chi. White Sox 0
NY Yankees 9
Seattle 1
St. Louis 5
Florida 2
Montreal 9
Arizona 5
San Francisco 5
Pittsburgh 4
NY Mets 4
Houston 2
Philadelphia 3
Colorado 2
Cincinnati 6
Atlanta 3
San Diego 8
Chicago Cubs 2
Los Angeles 5
Milwaukee 3
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