A happy return for Sanders, Cardinals

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Reggie Sanders returned to the Cardinals following the birth of his daughter and homered twice off Kazuhisa Ishii to lead St. Louis over the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-8 Thursday.

Sanders missed four days of spring training to be home while his wife, Wyndee, gave birth to their fourth daughter, Cooper, on Sunday. He hit a solo homer in the first and a two-run drive in the second.

"I'm just trying to swing at strikes," said Sanders, who went 3-for-4. "When I swing out of the zone, that's when I get into bad habits."

Sanders is expected to start in right field this year in place of J.D. Drew, who was traded to Atlanta during the offseason.

Sanders batted second and could end up hitting in that spot during the season. The outfielder usually has hit lower in the order but was in the No. 2 slot about five years ago.

"When I came here, I told them I'd do whatever they wanted me to do," Sanders said. "If that's what they want, then that's OK."

Jason Romano homered twice for the Dodgers, going 3-of-4 with a solo homer in the first and a three-run drive in the sixth.

Ishii struggled for the second straight outing, giving up five runs and seven hits in three innings. Ishii, who has altered his delivery in an attempt to improve his control, allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings during his spring debut Sunday.

Edwin Jackson, slated to open the season as the Dodgers' fifth starter, gave up six runs in 2 2/3 innings. NL Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne made his second preseason appearance and retired the side in order in the fourth.

Cardinals starter Jason Marquis allowed two runs and four hits in three innings.

So Taguchi went 3-of-5 and Steve Cox was 3-of-3 as the Cardinals got 19 hits.