Tatis Has a Blast, but Pirates Roll

Freddie Garcia broke out of a slump with three run-scoring singles as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 13-3, Thursday night for their fifth win in six games.

Fernando Tatis hit his 11th home run for St. Louis, a two-run shot in the second, to tie Matt Williams for the major league lead. He also tied Williams for the National League RBI lead with 32.

“I am surprised at how well I am hitting the ball,” Tatis said. “Today I hit another home run just right. If they make a mistake, that’s what happens.”

That was the only damage the Cardinals could manage against Pirate spot starter Todd Ritchie (2-1), who yielded six hits and three runs in seven innings.

Donovan Osborne (1-3) lasted four innings, giving up four runs and seven hits. The Cardinals’ opening day starter has a 5.52 earned-run average and might be headed for the disabled list because of a sore shoulder.

Garcia, mired in a two-for-26 slump and batting .100, went three for four with run-scoring singles in the second, fifth and sixth innings.

Mike Benjamin, hitless in his previous 10 at-bats, had two run-scoring singles for the Pirates, who had season highs with 15 hits and 13 runs. Pittsburgh’s 6-7-8 hitters had seven hits and six RBIs.