Cardinals Pay Tribute After Winning Title

Before the celebration began, the St. Louis Cardinals paused to honor a teammate and broadcaster.

Manager Tony La Russa gathered the team after their National League Central-clinching 9-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night at St. Louis to remind the Cardinals of the hurdles they’ve cleared and to pay tribute to Darryl Kile and Jack Buck.

This is the Cardinals’ third consecutive playoff berth and third division title in seven years under La Russa, and it clearly came under some of the toughest of circumstances.

Kile died in the team’s Chicago hotel on June 22 from a blockage of the arteries supplying the heart. It came only four days after the death of longtime announcer Buck, leaving a huge hole in the rotation and a team in depression.

Third baseman Scott Rolen, one of St. Louis’ key in-season additions, ended the game with a leaping catch to rob Brian Hunter of a hit. The Cardinals celebrated near the mound at Busch Stadium as Albert Pujols carried Kile’s jersey onto the field.

Jim Edmonds sprayed Kile’s jersey with champagne in the clubhouse.

The Cardinals lost another pitcher in the clincher. Woody Williams, making his fifth start since coming off his second stint on the disabled list for a pulled muscle in his left side, left the game in the fifth with tightness in his back and rib cage.

Eli Marrero had four hits, including one of the Cardinals’ four homers, and four runs scored to highlight a 14-hit attack.

San Francisco 5, Milwaukee 1--Ryan Jensen gave up one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings and Rich Aurilia hit a two-run home run for the Giants at Milwaukee. The Giants have a two-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL wild-card race. Milwaukee (54-99) set a franchise record for losses. The previous mark of 98 was set in 1969, when the team was the Seattle Pilots.

Colorado 9, Arizona 4--Todd Helton hit a tiebreaking home run in the fifth inning at Denver and the Rockies pounded Curt Schilling for his worst outing of the year. Schilling (23-6) gave up a season-worst nine runs--eight earned--and 14 hits in 7 1/3 innings. Colorado’s Mike Hampton will not pitch the rest of the season because of a strained ligament in his right foot.

Pittsburgh 5, Chicago 4--Sammy Sosa hit his 498th career homer but the Pirates rallied for two runs in the ninth to win at Pittsburgh. Antonio Alfonseca (2-5), who has converted only 19 of 27 save chances, gave up an RBI double to Armando Rios and an RBI single to Jack Wilson to end the game.

Montreal 6, New York 1--Vladimir Guerrero stole three bases and Tony Armas Jr. pitched into the eighth inning as the Expos won at New York for their seventh consecutive victory. Armas improved to 3-0 in his last four starts. Guerrero has 39 stolen bases and 37 home runs.

Florida 6, Atlanta 2--Abraham Nunez got his first two major league hits and fellow rookie Justin Wayne got his second victory as the Marlins won at Atlanta. Florida’s Kevin Millar went 0 for 3 with two walks, ending his 25-game hitting streak.

Philadelphia at Cincinnati, ppd.--The game will be made up today as part of a doubleheader.