The Cardinals' lucky charm was pitching Friday. Right-hander Todd Wellemeyer fired seven innings of one-run, four-hit ball at the San Francisco Giants and the Cardinals won for the 12th time in the 15 starts the converted reliever has made in the last two seasons. "He had a better breaking ball than he's had in a long time," said manager Tony La Russa.
First baseman Albert Pujols had a three-run homer to highlight a six-run fourth inning, but the key offensive player Friday was left fielder Chris Duncan, rounding into form after battling back and hamstring injuries this spring.
Duncan, hitting second in front of Pujols, doubled, hit a two-run homer and had the patience to take two walks. "He's really got a good strike zone for the number of at-bats he's had in the big leagues," said La Russa of his third-year outfielder.
All six of the Cardinals' runs in the fourth came with two out. Catcher Jason LaRue started the inning with his first hit of the season and shortstop Cesar Izturis kept it alive with a two-out double before right fielder Skip Schumaker singled home the first two runs of the inning.
The Cardinals have scored first in 13 of their first 17 games and won 11 of them. "That's a great way to play this game," La Russa said.
CARDINALS 11, GIANTS 1: After being no-hit by right-hander Matt Cain for six innings last Saturday before they exploded, the Cardinals got to Cain early Friday. Left fielder Chris Duncan's double set up a run in the first and his second homer broke a 1-1 tie in the third. First baseman Albert Pujols hit his fourth homer, a second-deck shot. It was his first at Busch Stadium this season.
