Redbirds use Williams gem to sweep Jays

Williams takes no-hitter into eighth inning of Cardinals' 13-5 victory.

By R.B. Fallstrom ~ The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Woody Williams held Toronto hitless until Orlando Hudson singled with one out in the eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals romped 13-5 Thursday night in a game the Blue Jays played under protest.

The Cardinals swept the three-game series, outscoring Toronto 32-15. Williams hit a bases-loaded triple and drove in four runs.

The Blue Jays lodged their protest in the second inning after an umpire's reversal on a fly ball cost them a triple play. Toronto manager Carlos Tosca was ejected for the first time in his major league career arguing the call.

Williams (8-1) gave up one hit in eight shutout innings, striking out five and walking one. He dominated the team he played for from 1993-98, allowing only Hudson's clean single to right field on a 1-2 pitch.

There hasn't been a no-hitter at Busch Stadium since Bob Forsch beat Montreal in 1983.

Williams helped himself with his first career triple, delivering with the bases loaded in the third when center fielder Vernon Wells missed a diving catch. Williams also drove in a run with a groundout, giving him a career-high four RBIs.

It was 1-0 in the second inning when the Cardinals put Eduardo Perez on second base and Tino Martinez on first with no outs.

Mike Matheny hit a shallow fly ball and left fielder Frank Catalanotto tried for a shoestring grab. Third-base umpire Kerwin Danley ruled it was a catch, the Blue Jays trapped Perez and Martinez off base.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa sprinted onto the field to argue, and replays showed that Catalanotto trapped the ball.

The umpires huddled and after several minutes, they ruled it a base hit and the St. Louis runners re-emerged from the dugout, loading the bases and costing the Blue Jays their first triple play since 1979.

Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols hit back-to-back homers in the sixth and the Cardinals totaled 15 hits. Pujols, who leads the NL with a .379 average, was 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Mark Hendrickson (4-5) lasted only 2 2-3 innings, allowing seven runs -- three earned -- on seven hits. Hendrickson was 3-0 in four May starts.

Chris Woodward hit a leadoff homer in Toronto's three-run ninth against Dustin Hermanson. It was Hermanson's first outing in 11 days.

Noteworthy

The Cardinals have four series sweeps this year.

The Cardinals hit back-to-back homers for the second time this season. Edmonds and Pujols also were involved April 4 at Houston.

Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen struck out one in a scoreless inning Thursday night in his first rehab appearance for Double-A Tennessee.