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Ankiel's 2 HRs, 7 RBIs Lift Cards To 16-4 Win

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The Associated Press

Published: September 7, 2007

ST. LOUIS - Rick Ankiel isn't just hitting, he's turning into a force.

The pitcher-turned-outfielder homered twice and had a career-high seven RBIs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals past the Pittsburgh Pirates 16-4 Thursday in a game shortened to eight innings because of rain.

Ankiel hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the second inning for a 5-2 lead against Bryan Bullington (0-1), who made his major-league debut five years after he was the No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft. Ankiel made it 11-3 with a two-run drive in the fifth against John Grabow and added a two-run double in the sixth off Dave Davidson, also making his big-league debut.

Brought up Aug. 9 in his first major-league appearance since he pitched for the Cardinals in 2004, Ankiel is batting .358 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 23 games. He also homered twice against the Dodgers on Aug. 11.

He made his second start in center field, hauling in Josh Pearce's drive at the wall in the third. He barely missed a diving catch on pinch-hitter Matt Kata's slicing drive that fell for a double in the fourth, getting a round of applause for the effort.

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