Ponson delivers again, as Cards top Dodgers

~ The right-handed pitcher allowed two hits in six innings.

JUPITER, Fla. -- Sidney Ponson pitched Saturday as if he still had to win a job.

The St. Louis Cardinals' right-hander, who was given the fifth starting spot earlier this week, worked six innings in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He gave up only two hits and the only damage was a home run by Ricky Ledee leading off the fifth.

"I pitch the same all the time," Ponson said. "One is fastball, two is curve. Whatever he puts down, I try to make a quality pitch.

"I still have to go out there and do the job."

Albert Pujols drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and RBI single, and David Eckstein and Juan Encarnacion each had two hits and a run batted in for the Cardinals.

Eckstein is 10-for-16 in his last six games.

Jim Edmonds singled in his first two at-bats, giving him six straight hits, before striking out in the fourth.

The Cardinals signed Ponson, released by the Orioles after alcohol-related problems, to a $1 million contract with $1.5 million in incentives. He's trying to bounce back after posting a 7-11record with a 6.21 ERA last year.

Ponson, who used to be a strikeout pitcher, has been content to get quick outs this spring. He struck out only one and walked one.

"I used to rare back and throw 99 and 'Here you go, I'm going to strike you out,'" Ponson said. "And it didn't work that well."

The Dodgers' Brad Penny lasted four innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. He also had a bit of a run-in with home plate umpire Casey Moser.

Penny took exception to a request to have the ball checked during a Jim Edmonds at-bat, rolling the ball into the dugout instead, and the two jawed in front of the plate after Edmonds struck out for the last out in the fourth.

"I looked down and saw the ball was scuffed, so I do what I always do and threw it out of play," Penny said. "Then after the inning, I went to explain what I did, and the umpire started cursing at me."

Ledee's second homer of the spring was one of only five hits for the Dodgers, who have lost five in a row.

Adam Wainwright, who is trying to make the club in long relief, worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh when he struck out Jason Repko and Russell Martin.