Cardinals win second game against Toronto

AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Interleague games are bringing out the best in Tino Martinez.

Martinez has four hits and four RBIs in the first two games of the St. Louis Cardinals' series with Toronto, contributing with a run-scoring single and triple in an 8-5 victory Wednesday night.

The former American League first baseman has just 21 RBIs this season but 11 in his last 11 games.

"I've probably been more selective at the plate and not chasing bad pitches," Martinez said. "I think that's been the difference.

"I've taken a few walks when I've had to and I'm swinging at good pitches now."

Martinez had six 100-RBI seasons in seven years with the Mariners and Yankees, but slumped to 75 in his first year with the Cardinals last season. Earlier in the season, manager Tony La Russa bumped Martinez down a slot to seventh and rarely plays him against left-handers.

Martinez and catcher Mike Matheny, neither particularly fleet-footed, provided a highlight with back-to-back triples in the sixth.

"I think our guys thought that was the loudest the stadium has been all year long," La Russa said. "That was a treat."

Leadoff hitter Miguel Cairo snapped an 0-for-18 slump with three hits, and scored twice as the Cardinals rallied from an early three-run deficit against eight-game winner Cory Lidle.

The Cardinals have won three in a row overall, making them 5-4 on a 13-game homestand, and they'll go for a sweep Thursday behind seven-game winner Woody Williams.

"Just about any ballclub would take Woody on the mound," closer Cal Eldred said. "But we know they have a good club over there."

Carlos Delgado hit his 17th homer and Reed Johnson hit his second for the Blue Jays, who have won nine of 13. Orlando Hudson was 3-for-4 with a two-run single.

Lidle, who among the AL leaders in wins, has lost his last two outings since a career-best seven-game winning streak. He struggled with his breaking ball and lasted five innings, giving up eight runs on 11 hits.

"I don't think he was making a lot of quality pitches," manager Carlos Tosca said. "I didn't think his breaking ball had real good bite like it usually has."

The Cardinals scored five runs in the bottom of the third, taking a 6-4 lead, after the Blue Jays scored four in the top half of the inning.

"It was a weird inning because I felt like I made some pretty good pitches," Lidle said. "A swinging bunt and a broken-bat single leads to five runs. It's pretty frustrating when that happens."

Jason Simontacchi, coming off his first career complete game, won despite lasting only five shaky innings. Simontacchi (3-3) gave up five runs on 10 hits.

"I definitely wasn't on like I last week," Simontacchi said. "But I realize how hard it is to come by a 'W."'

Eldred, pitching for the first time in six days, worked the last two innings for his fifth save in seven chances. The bullpen allowed one hit in the last four innings.

Notes: The Cardinals won three in a row for the first time since April 27-May 4 when they won seven straight. ... Lidle got his first career hit in 11 at-bats when he singled to start the third. ... The Blues Jays ran on LF Albert Pujols in the third when Vernon Wells just kept running on a ball a little to Pujols' right for a double. Pujols remains under orders not to cut loose fully with throws due to a sprained elbow ligament.