Cardinals Victimized by Homer

The St. Louis Cardinals are hitting home runs like no other team in National League history. But Saturday night, it was Colorado’s Jeffrey Hammonds who hit the home run that counted.

In his first game since coming off the disabled list, Hammonds atoned for an error with a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning as the Rockies defeated the Cardinals, 7-6, at St. Louis on a night the Cardinals made history.

Mark McGwire and Fernando Tatis hit two-run homers to give the Cardinals a league-record 42 homers in April. St. Louis has hit a home run in 14 consecutive games, three shy of the team record.

“Who cares? Don’t even talk about it,” McGwire said. “It’s stupid. It’s a stat that is absolutely meaningless.”

Atlanta hit 41 home runs in April 1998. The major-league mark is 49 by Cleveland in 1997. The record for any month is 58 by Baltimore in May 1987.

“We’re going to try to keep going,” Tatis said. “We’re not looking for home runs every time, it just happens.”

The Rockies have won five of six this season against the Cardinals and seven of their last 10 overall.

Hammonds, who suffered a hamstring injury on opening day, was activated Saturday. He dropped J.D. Drew’s drive near the left-field warning track in the second inning. Mike Matheny followed with a run-scoring single.

With the Cardinals’ ahead, 6-5, in the seventh, Hammonds connected against Mike James for his first home run. He also singled and scored in the second.

“I’m the only one with a blemish out there when I botched the ball,” Hammonds said. “But I’ll take that one in the win column.”

Rick Croushore worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings and Jose Jimenez got three outs for his third save. Both pitchers were with the Cardinals last season, and both of Croushore’s victories have been against St. Louis.