Cards use big momentum swing on Reds

Marlon Anderson cracked a three-run pinch home run in the eighth inning as St. Louis defeated Cincinnati 7-5.

By Terry Kinney ~ The Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Marlon Anderson sure got his manager's attention.

Anderson had a pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth inning Friday night to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

"That will earn him a start tomorrow," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "He'll be in there somewhere."

It was Anderson's fifth pinch-hit home run, his second this year.

But the highlight-reel play that had everyone talking was Jim Edmond's catch in the ninth when he reached over the center-field fence to take a home run away from Jason LaRue.

"That (catch) was ridiculous. That's the only way to put it," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "The guy continues to do it every time. He's special to watch."

Edmonds was surprised he made the catch.

"I didn't think I was even going to get close to it. I kind of got turned wrong," Edmonds said.

"You dream about making plays like that."

La Russa said it was Edmond's most spectacular catch, among the many he's made.

"When you win, things like that happen, and things like that happen because people are put into positions to be successful," Reds shortstop Barry Larkin said.

"I know Marlon Anderson was sitting over there waiting for that chance. It's tough, but that's baseball," Larkin added.

Anderson homered off Danny Graves, the major leagues saves leader with 33, after Reggie Sanders hit a two-run single to pull St. Louis to 5-4. It was the eighth blown save in 41 opportunities for Graves (1-4).

Kiko Calero (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh inning. Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 26 opportunities.

Cincinnati opened a four-run lead in the first, capped by Wily Mo Pena's three-run homer. Pena's 11th homer came off Woody Williams, who hasn't lost since June 8 at Chicago. Since then, Williams has three wins and three no-decisions.

Williams allowed eight hits and five runs in six innings. He walked one and struck out five.

Reds starter Paul Wilson allowed eight hits, walked nobody and struck out three in seven innings. It was the fifth time this season time Wilson left with a lead and didn't get a win.

The Reds loaded the bases in the first on two singles and a walk. Barry Larkin, who started the rally with a one-out single, scored when D'Angelo Jimenez grounded into a forceout, and Pena followed with his homer.

Wilson gave up a run in the fourth when Albert Pujols led off with a single and scored on Edmonds' double down the right-field line. Pujols, 4-for-5, singled in Tony Womack in the fifth to make it 4-2.

LaRue homered in the sixth, his ninth of the year and first in Great American Ball Park since Sept. 9, to give the Reds a 5-2 lead.

St. Louis loaded the bases in the eighth when Todd Jones gave up a hit and two walks. Graves relieved and allowed Sanders' two-run single to left. Anderson then homered to right-center.

"I've got no solution for that guy," Graves said of Anderson. "Lately, every time I've faced him, it seems like he's gotten a hit on everything I threw.

"It seemed like he was a little out in front of it, too, but he got good wood on it and got it up in the air. I'm not going to second-guess my pitch selection."

Notes: Brett Helmer became the first player to hit a ball out of 2-year-old Great American Ball Park. He did it in a pregame, slow-pitch softball home run exhibition by the Easton Bomb Squad. ... Reds CF Freel was 0-for-4 to end his career-high hitting streak at 10 games. ... Reds LHP Mike Matthews, out for four to six weeks because of elbow surgery July 6, expects to start playing catch Saturday.