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Sunday, Apr. 16 3:05pm ET
Drew delivers as Cards win twinbill opener | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DENVER (AP) -- J.D. Drew is doing a good job putting his disappointing rookie season behind him. After hitting .242 for St. Louis and dodging batteries from disgruntled fans in Philadelphia last year, Drew is off to an impressive start in 2000. He had three-run double Sunday to help the Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies 9-3 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Drew is 8-for-16 with four homers and 12 RBI in the season's first two weeks. "It was a big-time learning experience last year," Drew said. "It's going to be a little bit easier this year." Drew was hit in the left wrist in the fifth inning and was doubtful for the nightcap. He planned to have X-rays taken Monday but did not expect the injury to be serious. "It's sore in certain spots, but you can't really tell until you get it looked at," he said. "I don't think it's really bad." Placido Polanco and Thomas Howard hit solo homers for the Cardinals, whose power has not dropped off in the absence of ailing Mark McGwire. St. Louis has homered in eight straight games -- four without McGwire. "We've got 14 or 15 position players, and the majority (11) of the guys have a couple home runs already," Howard said. "It's almost contagious. When you get in there, you want to do good because you want to play a little bit more." The St. Louis offense gave starter Pat Hentgen (3-0) plenty of room for error in his first Coors Field appearance by roughing up Rolando Arrojo (1-1), who allowed a career-high eight runs in four innings. "They were just hitting me today," Arrojo said. "They hit good pitches, and I didn't really have good location. It was a bad day, and when I have a bad day, anybody can hit me." Hentgen, acquired in an offseason trade with Toronto, gave up three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He left after Todd Helton's two-run single pulled Colorado to 8-3. "Our offense is just explosive," Hengten said. "It's a lot like the (World Series championship) team I played with in Toronto in '93. At any given time, a five-spot seems like it's really easy for our lineup. The hitters were the story today." Polanco, who went 3-for-5, and Howard each homered in the first, and Drew put the Cardinals ahead 7-1 when he capped a five-run third with a two-out, bases-loaded double into the right-center field gap. The hit came after Drew fell behind in the count and illustrated his ever-evolving learning curve. "I got away from different aspects of the game (last year)," he said. "My big thing in college was see it and hit it. I remember going to plate last year thinking, 'Stride here. Do this. Do that,' instead of just really focusing on the ball. I'm trying to let the physical ability take over." Colorado, which had its three-game winning streak snapped, got its offense from Helton, who also had a solo homer in the second. The only other bright spot for the Rockies was the return of reliever Jerry Dipoto, who missed the first 11 games because of a bulging disk below his neck. Dipoto gave up one run in the final two innings. "For my first outing, I threw the ball well. I went out and pitched like I've always pitched," Dipoto said. "I gave up a run. That didn't sit well with me, but I thought I got through pretty well." Game notesMcGwire will be re-evaluated Monday after receiving treatment over the weekend for inflammation in his lower back. ... The Rockies open a 10-game road trip Monday at Arizona, while the Cardinals begin a 10-day homestand Tuesday. ... Colorado traded for Arrojo during the winter, in part because of his control. He walked three hitters Sunday, and they all scored. Arrojo also hit a batter with the bases loaded. ... Cardinals OF Jim Edmonds has gone 1-for-12 after a string of nine straight hits. ... St. Louis scrapped plans to recall RHP Gene Stechschulte for Sunday's doubleheader. Instead, Alan Benes remained on the active roster. ... The Rockies missed a chance for their first four-game home winning streak since September 1998. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard St. Louis Clubhouse Colorado Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 5 Oakland 4
St. Louis 9
Colorado 14
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