Cardinals storm back in 8th against Pirates

ST. LOUIS -- Scott Rolen hit a go-ahead, three-run double and a two-run single in a 10-run eighth inning, driving in six runs to lead the Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-5 Tuesday night.

Craig Wilson hit a three-run homer, and Jeff Reboulet and Jack Wilson had solo shots for the Pirates, who lost three of four to the Cardinals in Pittsburgh last week.

Albert Pujols, who leads the major leagues with a .371 average and has a 30-game hitting streak, began serving a two-game suspension for punching Gary Bennett of the Padres on July 13. Pujols, who dropped his appeal, had flu-like symptoms for the third straight day and wasn't at the ballpark.

St. Louis, which stopped a three-game losing streak, had its biggest inning since scoring 10 in the seventh against Arizona last Sept. 23. It was the most runs in an inning against Pittsburgh since San Diego scored 13 on May 31, 1994.

Tino Martinez homered for the fourth time in seven games and had two RBIs for the Cardinals, who began a nine-game homestand. It was the seventh time this year St. Louis won by eight or more runs.

With Pittsburgh leading 5-3 in the eighth, Orlando Palmeiro and Edgar Renteria singled and Jim Edmonds walked against Joe Beimel (1-3). Rolen doubled off Julian Tavarez, and pinch-hitter So Taguchi added a two-run single.

Bo Hart followed with an RBI double. Renteria had a two-run double for his fourth hit. Rolen capped the inning with a two-out, two-run single off Pat Mahomes.

Cal Eldred (6-4) allowed a hit and had a strikeout in a scoreless eighth, and Jason Isringhausen finished for his 14th save in 15 chances.

The Pirates have hit 23 homers in their last 12 games. Craig Wilson is 6-for-9 with three homers and five RBIs in his last four games, Reboulet has nine hits in his last 21 at-bats and Jack Wilson has a nine-game hitting streak.

Pittsburgh's Brian Meadows allowed three runs in five-plus innings and ended an 0-for-28 slump at the plate with his first hit since he singled for San Diego off the Pirates' Kris Benson on July 20, 2000.

Jeff Fassero faced the Pirates for the second straight start and gave up four runs in five innings. Reboulet's second homer put the Pirates ahead in the first and the Cardinals tied it in the bottom half of the inning on three singles, the last by Rolen. Martinez' 14th homer gave St. Louis a 2-1 lead in the fourth before the Pirates went in front to stay.

Brian Giles doubled with two outs in the fifth to start a three-run rally. Reggie Sanders walked before Craig Wilson hit his ninth homer.

Jack Wilson's eighth homer off Esteban Yan made it 5-2 in the sixth. The Cardinals got a run back in the bottom of the sixth when Edgar Renteria hit a leadoff double and scored on a one-out groundout by Martinez.

Noteworthy

Pirates pitchers have allowed 18 homers in the last 12 games. ... The Pirates were in a 1-for-22 slump with runners in scoring position and were 0-for-4 Tuesday before Craig Wilson's homer in the fifth. ... The Cardinals were 5-for-35 with runners in scoring position over a four-game span before Rolen's double. ... Cardinals pitchers have given up nine homers in the last four games. ... Yan has been scored upon in 18 of his 37 games with St. Louis. ... Martinez has nine RBIs in the last seven games. ... St. Louis is 6-50 when trailing after seven innings.