Mulder sharp as Cardinals take two game lead on Padres

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Mark Mulder pitched 6 2/3 strong
innings and Reggie Sanders and David Eckstein both drove in a
pair of runs as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego
Padres 6-2 in National League Division Series play Thursday in
St. Louis.

The Cardinals needed just six hits to score their runs as
they take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series and
they look to repeat as NL champions.

Game three in the series is in San Diego Saturday.

Mulder scattered eight hits but allowed just one run,
striking out two and walking one. Julian Tavares, Randy Flores
and Jason Isringhausen completed the 10-hitter for the Cards.

As they did in game one of the series, the Cardinals broke
in front quickly, scoring twice in the third and twice in the
fourth to lead 4-0. The runs scored on two fielder’s choices, a
bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly as the Cards chipped away
at starter Pedro Astacio.

COMEBACK HOPES

The Padres got one run back in the seventh but a two-run
double by Reggie Sanders in the bottom of the seventh all-but
ended any San Diego comeback hopes.

Albert Pujols had two of the Cards hits and added an RBI
and a run scored, while Abraham Nunez scored a pair of runs for
St. Louis.

Astacio was the loser, charged with four runs — two earned
– on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks in four
innings.

Xavier Nady drove in both runs for the Padres, while Joe
Randa had three of the 10 Padre hits in the game.

Former Cardinal Woody Williams gets the start in game three
Saturday night for San Diego, while Matt Morris pitches for St.
Louis.

The Cardinals were the only major league team to win 100
games this season, while the Padres finished just 82-82.