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  Wednesday, Aug. 16 2:20pm ET
Controversial end gives Kile 14th win
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

CHICAGO (AP) -- The St. Louis Cardinals were a little confused on the basepaths Wednesday but left no doubt who was in control on the mound.

Edgar Renteria hit a disputed three-run homer Wednesday to help Darryl Kile post his 14th win and lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

"Darryl Kile gave us a huge effort, the kind we needed," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It's always nice when a pitcher finishes what he starts."

Renteria's 13th homer ended a five-game homerless streak by the Cardinals, their longest of the season. Shawon Dunston also hit a solo homer, his 10th, in the seventh.

Kile (14-8) pitched a six-hitter to become the third NL pitcher to reach 14 wins, joining Arizona's Randy Johnson and Atlanta's Tom Glavine, who both have 15. Kile walked two and struck out four in his third complete game.

"When he's spotty with his command, that's when you can get him," Chicago's Mark Grace said of Kile. "When he's got his command, it's going to be a long day. He had very good command today."

Sammy Sosa, the majors' home run leader at 38, was hitless in four at-bats as the Cubs lost for the ninth time in their last 13 games.

The confusion came in the Cardinals second. Kevin Tapani (8-9) hit Fernando Tatis with a pitch to start the inning. One out later, J.D. Drew singled. Renteria then hit a 3-2 pitch from Tapani that just cleared the basket rimming the left-field bleachers.

The ball came back onto the field and Drew hesitated after rounding second base and started to go back, apparently confused over whether the ball had gone out.

"I saw the umpire (signal home run), I saw the guy (left fielder Rondell White) jump into the vines and I saw Jose (Oquendo, third base coach) go `Whoa,"' Drew said. "I saw the ball fall to the ground and I saw the umpire give the home run signal but I picked up Oquendo and he was like `Whoa, whoa, whoa.' My first instinct was that he was talking to me. Then I felt Renteria behind me after I ran back."

Renteria collided with Drew and pushed him toward third and Drew continued home. Cubs manager Don Baylor argued with second base umpire Kerwin Danley that Renteria passed Drew and should've been called out, but to no avail.

"I was hoping with my heart that (Renteria) ran by (Drew)," Cubs manager Don Baylor said, "but I know he didn't."

"I didn't think he'd pass me," Drew said of Renteria. "I think he knew not to run by me."

Oquendo was yelling at Renteria, not Drew.

"Renteria was running with his head down and luckily he pushed J.D. forward," Oquendo said.

Tapani, who had given up just three runs in his last 20 2-3 innings, allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out seven.

Tapani gave up two homers to raise his season total to 32, second-most in the NL and two shy of his career high of 34 set in 1996 with the White Sox.

"Same pitch, same swing," Tapani said of the two homers, both off high fastballs. "The first one was all they needed because of the way (Kile) threw the ball."

With runners at first and third and one out in the fifth, Dunston hit a single that dropped next to center fielder Damon Buford, allowing a run to score to make it 4-0. The official scorer originally charged Buford with an error, then changed his call after the game.

Dunston's homer in the seventh made it 5-0. The Cubs answered in the seventh when Joe Girardi doubled with one out and scored on Jeff Huson's single.

"We just didn't hit at all this homestand," Baylor said. "To walk away 1-5 (on the homestand) leaves a bad taste in your mouth."

Game notes
St. Louis improved to 28-14 in day games, best in the National League. ... The Cardinals have hit a league-leading 185 home runs and are on pace to break the 1998 franchise mark of 223. ... Tapani has worked at least six innings in 23 of his 26 outings. ... The Cubs finished the homestand 1-5 against Central division foes Cincinnati and St. Louis. They were outscored 24-14. ... Game time temperature was a much more pleasant 76 degrees compared to Tuesday's sweltering 91.

 


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