Rolen, Duncan power Cards past Giants

ST. LOUIS -- Scott Rolen hit two home runs and drove home a career high seven runs, and rookie Chris Duncan also homered twice to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over San Francisco 14-4 Friday night and dent the Giants' NL wild-card chances.

San Francisco began the day 2 1/2 games behind San Diego, the wild-card leader.

St. Louis, closing in on its third straight NL Central title, maintained a 5 1/2-game division lead over second-place Cincinnati.

Rolen, 1-for-11 in his previous three games, hit a three-run homer in the first off Brad Hennessey (5-5), an emergency starter after Jason Schmidt had a tight back. Rolen added a solo shot in the sixth, giving him 21 homers and putting the Cardinals ahead 7-2. He added a bases-loaded double off Billy Sadler in a seven-run sixth.

that boosted the lead to 13-2.

Rolen had his 19th multihomer game, his first since Aug. 15, 2004, at Atlanta. His previous career high for RBIs was six against Pittsburgh in on Aug. 19, 2003.

Duncan hit a solo homer in the first, a two-run homer in the second and walked with the bases loaded in the sixth, giving him four RBIs. It was the second multihomer game for Duncan, who also went deep twice Aug. 10 at Cincinnati.

Albert Pujols had a two-run single, giving him 122 RBIs.

Jeff Suppan (12-7) allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings, striking out six. He is 6-2 with a 2.30 ERA since the All-Star break and is 3-0 in six starts since losing to Pittsburgh 7-1 on Aug. 11.

Hennessey allowed six runs and five hits in two innings, dropping to 0-3 with a 10.70 ERA in his last five starts.

Pedro Feliz homered in the seventh for San Francisco. He has 22 this season, tying his career best, set in 2004.

Notes: Rolen's home run was his first since Aug. 23 at New York. ... Hennessey lasted just one inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 19, allowing seven runs and seven hits. ... The Cardinals are 21-9 vs. the NL West.