DENVER-
Add Todd Wellemeyer to the list of relievers the St. Louis Cardinals have successfully converted into starters this season.
Wellemeyer earned a victory in his first major league start and Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds hit back-to-back homers in the fifth as St. Louis beat Colorado 8-4 Wednesday night to end the Rockies’ seven-game winning streak.
The Cardinals have turned Braden Looper, Brad Thompson and Adam Wainwright into winning starters in 2007. And now Wellemeyer, who had 119 career relief appearances coming into the game.
Old habits are hard to break, though. Wellemeyer (1-0) worked out of the stretch from the first pitch. The 28-year-old Wellemeyer, who was claimed off waivers by St. Louis on May 15, lasted five innings, giving up seven hits and three runs.
The Cardinals hit back-to-back homers for the first time this season. Pujols drove a three-run homer off Jason Hirsh to left-center field—his ninth of the season—and Edmonds hit the next pitch to right for his fifth. The Cardinals tied a season-high with five runs in the fifth inning.
Scott Rolen finished with two RBI doubles and Edmonds was 3-for-5 with a triple and single and two runs scored. The win ended St. Louis’ seven-game road losing streak.
The Rockies were attempting to win eight in a row for the first time since Aug. 26-Sept. 2, 1997.
Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe hit solo homers off Wellemeyer. Holliday’s 10th of the season came in the sixth and chased Wellemeyer from the game. Holliday had his 10th three-hit game, which leads the majors.
Hawpe hit an 0-2 pitch to right in the second inning. Hawpe has hit three homers in as many nights and has eight this season. Hawpe drove a pitch from Tyler Johnson deep to right with two on in the eighth, but Ryan Ludwick caught it with his back to the wall.
St. Louis closer Jason Isringhausen pitched a perfect ninth in a non-save situation.
Hirsh (2-5) was pulled after 4 2-3 innings and giving up eight runs. He allowed a career-high 10 hits.
Edmonds led off the fourth with a triple and scored on Rolen’s double.
Rolen also drove in So Taguchi with an RBI double in the first. Pujols, who’d singled earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch. Pujols finished 2-for-4 and scored twice.
The Cardinals found out Wednesday that catcher Yadier Molina will be sidelined four to six weeks with a fractured left wrist. The team placed Molina on the 15-day disabled list and purchased the contract of catcher Brian Esposito from Triple-A Memphis.
Molina left Tuesday’s game in the fourth inning after being hit by a foul tip an inning earlier.
“This is a tremendous setback,” Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said.
Notes:@ Rockies OF Willy Taveras is expected to be in the lineup Thursday. He’s been out since being struck on the index finger Monday when he attempted to lay down a bunt. … Rockies reliever Manny Corpas was arrived back in Denver on Wednesday evening after flying to Panama to attend a funeral earlier in the week. He pitched in the ninth. … St. Louis INF Chris Duncan’s knee showed improvement, but he was left behind at the hotel for a second day. … Cards OF Scott Spiezio, who left Tuesday’s game because of dizziness, said he still doesn’t feel quite right. “It was a reaction to medication,” Spiezio said. … St. Louis SS David Eckstein missed his third straight game with back spasms.
