Williams, Edmonds Lead Cardinals

Woody Williams, a major reason for the St. Louis Cardinals’ playoff appearance last season, finally made a meaningful contribution to their stretch drive this year.

Williams won for the first time in more than two months, and Jim Edmonds hit a two-run home run in the Cardinals’ 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

Edmonds had three runs batted in, and Williams (7-4) gave up one run and four hits for his first victory since beating San Diego on July 1.

It was Williams’ second start, both against the Reds, since his second stint on the disabled list this season because of a pulled muscle in his left side. He was 7-1 the last two months of 2001 after being acquired in a trade with San Diego, helping the Cardinals secure the National League wild-card berth.

“It was nice to finally get out there and do something to help the team, rather than what I did last week and obviously just sitting around for seven weeks,” Williams said. “It just seemed like everybody was at their best and that’s what we need to do the rest of the way out.”

Steve Kline got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, striking out Barry Larkin and Aaron Boone sandwiched around a walk to Adam Dunn. Dave Veres got three outs for his fourth save.

At Cincinnati on Thursday, Williams gave up five runs and eight hits in four innings of a 7-0 loss to Jimmy Haynes in his second-shortest outing of the year.

Williams has given up three or fewer runs in 20 of his last 21 starts for a 2.14 earned-run average during that span.

Williams was handcuffed at the plate, usually a strength for him. He is under orders not to swing the bat hard and took some feeble cuts, going 0 for 2.

“That’s the hardest thing for me, to go up there and just stand like a statue,” Williams said. “I know in the long run that’s what’s best for me, and I have to bite the bullet.”

Edmonds hit his 26th homer, and second in four games, after J.D. Drew doubled against Haynes (13-9) with two out in the third. Edmonds had been in a 3-for-17 slump and did not start Monday against left-hander Shawn Estes.

Edmonds hit a 3-and-1 pitch into the first row in the left-center-field bleachers as center fielder Reggie Taylor just missed on a leaping catch. Edmonds had a sacrifice fly in the eighth against Scott Williamson.

Larkin and Boone doubled in the first to produce Cincinnati’s run. Boone has five RBIs in the first two games of the series.

“When you only score one, you don’t win many games,” Red Manager Bob Boone said. “Scoring one [run] don’t get it done, that’s the bottom line.”

Haynes, who threw eight shutout innings with a season-best seven strikeouts Thursday, was nearly as effective. In seven innings, he gave up two runs and seven hits, struck out two and walked one.

“The other pitcher pitched a little bit better,” Haynes said. “I’ve been pitching pretty good all year, and these last two outings I may have been pitching better than I have been.”

The main thing lacking in his performance the second time around was offense. Haynes had two hits and a career-best three RBIs last week, but was 0 for 2 with two groundouts this time.