Cards rally in grand style

Renteria answers Cincinnati grand slam with clout of his own.

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Edgar Renteria had a grand slam and Scott Rolen hit the first pinch-hit homer of his career as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 Wednesday night.

Renteria set a career high with five RBIs, Albert Pujols got a career-best four hits and Tino Martinez homered for the NL Central leaders.

Jason LaRue hit a grand slam for the Reds.

Rolen had started 14 consecutive games since sitting out Aug. 18-19 with a sore left shoulder. Before the game, manager Tony La Russa said he wanted to give the All-Star third baseman a day to rest.

But with one out in the sixth, Rolen came up to hit for J.D. Drew against left-handed reliever Bruce Chen (2-5). Rolen hit the first pitch off the left-field foul screen for a 6-5 lead.

Luther Hackman (5-4) pitched two innings for the victory.

St. Louis added a run in the seventh when Pujols doubled and Martinez singled. Pujols hit an RBI single in a three-run eighth.

Cincinnati starter Ryan Dempster could not hold the 5-0 lead. Dempster, who was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning, is 2-5 in 11 starts since the Reds traded with Florida for him.

Martinez, who had three hits, tied it at 5 in the fifth with a leadoff homer into the right-center field bleachers. It was just Martinez's third homer since July 30.

Trailing 5-0 in the third inning, Renteria hit a grand slam that cut the Reds' lead to a run.

It was Renteria's second career grand slam. His first came on Aug. 18 at Philadelphia after 955 games in the major leagues.

Cincinnati scored five times in the second off Jamey Wright, making his second start for the Cardinals since being acquired from Milwaukee. LaRue hit his second grand slam of the season and third of his career.

The Reds have hit seven grand slams this season, tying a team record set previously three times.

Wright lasted three innings, giving up six hits and four walks. Lifetime, he is 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA lifetime at Busch Stadium. Notes: It was the Cardinals' fifth pinch-hit homer this season. ... Reds 3B Brandon Larson was hit by a foul ball in the Reds dugout in the fourth inning. Todd Walker was hitting and he sliced a foul ball that smacked Larson in the right ear as he was leaning against some protection netting at the top of the dugout. He was taken to a hospital for precautionary cat scan ... The win gives La Russa 1,905 victories in 3,613 games as a manager. He is tied for eighth place with Casey Stengel ... St. Louis starter Matt Morris (pulled left hamstring) threw about 40 pitches in the bullpen before the game. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Sept. 8. He possibly could start Tuesday in Milwaukee ... the Cardinals and Reds are tied for the National League lead with seven grand slams apiece. Cleveland leads the majors with eight.