Hentgen Steps Forward for the Cardinals

The closer the St. Louis Cardinals get to the postseason, the better Pat Hentgen gets.

Hentgen (15-10) pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout in more than three years in a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night at St. Louis. He struck out a season-high nine and walked none for his 10th career shutout, and first since June 20, 1997.

“I just think he’s a big-game guy,” catcher Mike Matheny said. “Things are real exciting around here and I think he’s the kind of guy who just swells up and comes up with a little better stuff.”

Hentgen won for the fifth time in six decisions. He gave up singles to Shane Andrews in the second and seventh innings and a leadoff double by Ricky Gutierrez in the fourth.

Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa is considering a three-man rotation for the playoffs, and for a long time Hentgen was the odd man out behind Darryl Kile, Garrett Stephenson and Andy Benes. Hentgen, who gave the Cardinals three 15-game winners for the first time since 1985, doesn’t appear to care.

“I have no control over that,” he said. “Tony’s going to make that decision and when I’m asked to pitch I’m going to go out and try my best.”

J.D. Drew and Craig Paquette homered for the Cardinals, who won their fourth straight and opened a season-high 11-game lead. St. Louis, which last won the division in 1996, reduced its magic number to five over second-place Cincinnati.

New York 10, Montreal 4--Edgardo Alfonzo, Robin Ventura and Jay Payton homered at Montreal as the Mets remained two games behind Atlanta, the NL East leader.

Glendon Rusch (10-10) gave up eight hits in 7 1/3 innings, helping increase the Mets’ lead to five games over Arizona in the wild-card race.

Alfonzo hit a solo homer in the first off Mike Thurman (4-6) to reach 20 homers for the second straight season.

Milwaukee 6, Cincinnati 4--Geoff Jenkins and Lou Collier homered as the Brewers won at Cincinnati.

Collier hit a solo shot in the fourth inning off Ron Villone (9-10). After Mark Loretta singled, Jenkins followed with a two-run homer, his 27th, to give Milwaukee a 6-2 lead.

Atlanta 5, Florida 3--Javy Lopez broke out of a two for 26 slump with a pair of run-scoring singles for the Braves at Atlanta.

Andy Ashby (10-12) gave up a two-run single in the first to Mike Lowell, then held Florida scoreless until the eighth inning.

Ashby, 6-5 since the Braves acquired him from Philadelphia on July 12, gave up three runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Houston 8, Pittsburgh 7--Chris Truby hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and the Astros overcame a four-run deficit to win at Houston.