Shortstop Comes Through With Big Single In Seventh
By David Wilhelm
June 02, 2003
ST. LOUIS - Renteria helps avert Bucs' sweep St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said there's no mystery surrounding Edgar Renteria's uncanny ability to produce in clutch situations.
But La Russa continues to marvel when Renteria delivers like he did Sunday in the Cardinals' 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh before 44,326 (46,103 paid) at Busch Stadium.
Renteria had a bases-loaded single with two outs in the seventh that snapped a 3-3 tie and enabled the Cardinals (28-27) to salvage the final game of a three-game series with the Pirates (24-31), who were denied their first sweep in St. Louis in 12 years.
"It's no secret," La Russa said of Renteria. "He really likes the situation; you've got to like it. He has confidence. He also knows he has the kind of stroke (for it). He uses the whole field and there really isn't one pitch he can't handle."
The Cardinals collected their first one-run victory since May 1, when they defeated New York 6-5 in 10 innings. They are 3-14 in one-run games this season.
Renteria, who batted .372 (55-for-148) with runners in scoring position last year, is hitting .302 in those situations this season (19-for-63).
"I feel comfortable in that situation," Renteria said. "I'm looking for pitches to hit."
Renteria has 37 RBIs this season, putting him on pace for a career-high 109. His previous high was 83 last season.
"In that very low-rated Sunday show that we do (on KMOX), somebody asked about moving him to the leadoff spot," La Russa said. "I said, 'Well, it's hard to move him. He's on a pace to drive in 100 runs.'
"He's so good in that situation. For Edgar to find a hole like that just shows you how clutch he is."
Steve Kline (2-4), who worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Brett Tomko, got the win.
Kline has struggled for most of the season, but has lowered his ERA to 4.03 in 23 games.
"I'm an emotional guy," Kline said. "When I'm struggling, I'm like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One day I'm happy, the next day I'm irritated and miserable."
After Esteban Yan surrendered Craig Wilson's one-out homer to left-center that made it 5-4 in the ninth, Jeff Fassero relieved and retired the final two Pirates for his third save.
Cal Eldred, who leads the Cardinals with four saves, was not available.
"He wasn't feeling well," La Russa said. "He wasn't even in uniform the last two days. By Tuesday, he'll make it all the way back."
Tomko allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits in six innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. His biggest mistake was hanging a slider and allowing a three-run homer to Jack Wilson in the third, which wiped out the Cardinals' 2-0 lead.
Tomko, who remained winless since April 25, rebounded and retired 11 of the final 13 hitters.
"It's been a struggle to get things together, but I felt pretty good today," Tomko said. "I made one or two bad pitches. I got out of my game plan and made a bad pitch (to Wilson)."
Miguel Cairo and J.D. Drew --whose opposite-field homer to left tied the game at 3 in the third --were retired easily by Joe Beimel (1-1) to start the seventh.
Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds followed with walks, and Salomon Torres relieved Beimel and walked Scott Rolen to load the bases.
Torres got ahead 0-2 on Renteria, who fouled off the next pitch before bouncing a grounder between third baseman Aramis Ramirez and shortstop Jack Wilson.
"He was down 0-2 in the count, and that doesn't really matter to Edgar," Rolen said.
Rolen made a leaping catch of pinch-hitter Reggie Sanders' line drive to end the game, which avenged a first-inning throwing error on a day when fans jammed the stadium to receive Rolen bobblehead dolls.
"That ball (Sanders hit) might have actually gone foul, but I was happy to get that thing and get a win," Rolen said.
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