Cardinals Get a Boost From Reyes

On any other pitching staff, Anthony Reyes would have earned an encore.

St. Louis’ top pitching prospect threw 6 1/3 innings of two-hit ball in his major league debut Tuesday night, but didn’t have much time to celebrate his 5-2 victory over the Brewers at Milwaukee because the Cardinals planned to send him back to triple-A Memphis this morning.

“I hope I won’t be sent down, but I know it’s going to happen,” said Reyes, who played for USC. “Hopefully, I showed them something where I can come back and pitch again.”

That, he did, giving up only two earned runs and two hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

“He really, really pitched well,” Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa said. “He did so many special things. What a lift he gave us.”

But he’ll probably have to bide his time anyway.

With only one off day scheduled this month, the Cardinals purchased the contract of their top pitching prospect and gave him a spot start, pushing their other five starters back an extra day.

Reyes (1-0), a 23-year-old right-hander in only his second full season in professional baseball, was only the sixth starting pitcher this season for the Cardinals.

St. Louis had been the last team in the major leagues to have used only its original five starters in its rotation since opening day.

San Diego 8, New York 3 -- Brian Giles and Khalil Greene homered for at San Diego for the Padres, who handed Pedro Martinez (12-4) his worst start of the year.

Chan Ho Park (1-0) struck out a season-high eight in his home debut as the Padres won their fifth game in a row.

Washington 6, Houston 5 -- Brandon Watson homered and doubled in his major league debut, and the slumping Nationals started a pivotal trip by holding off the Astros.

The win ended a three-game slide for the Nationals, who have lost 17 of 24 games. It also ended Washington’s skid of losing one-run games at 13.

Pittsburgh 12, Colorado 4 -- Jason Bay homered and drove in four runs and Dave Williams (9-8) pitched six strong innings at Denver, and the Pirates routed the Rockies.

Florida 5, Arizona 0 -- A.J. Burnett (10-6) threw a three-hitter at Miami to win his career-high fifth consecutive start to spark the Marlins.

Arizona matched a season low by falling six games under .500.

Cincinnati 8, Chicago 3 -- Jason LaRue hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, then singled home another run in a four-run ninth at Chicago, and the Reds handed the Cubs their seventh consecutive loss.

Atlanta 7, San Francisco 1 -- Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson drove in two runs apiece to back a strong outing by Horacio Ramirez (10-7), leading the Braves to victory at Atlanta.