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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A dominating pitching performance was expected
Tuesday at Busch Stadium. It figured, because Arizona's Randy
Johnson was in town.
Instead, it was Garrett Stephenson who put on the show.
Fernando Tatis hit his fourth career grand slam and the
Cardinals chased Johnson during a six-run sixth inning to beat the
Diamondbacks 7-3 Tuesday night.
"I gave it everything I had," said Stephenson (11-6), who gave
up three runs and five hits in eight innings. "Thank goodness that
my defense and offense took over."
|  | | Fernando Tatis' game-deciding grand slam was St. Louis' ninth this season, which extended the franchise record. |
Johnson (15-3) lasted just 5 2/3 innings in his shortest outing
of the season, allowing five runs -- four earned -- and five hits
with seven strikeouts.
He had completed six innings in 40 consecutive starts since a
10-4 loss to Atlanta on June 20, 1999. It was just the sixth time
in 22 starts this season the Big Unit didn't reach double digits in
strikeouts.
"I never got ahead of hitters," Johnson said. "I found myself
behind in the count most of the night against a very good team. You
can't pitch like that and expect to be successful."
Johnson, who lost for the first time in six starts since June 24
against Colorado, threw a first-pitch strike to just 10 of 29
batters, walking seven. Only 64 of 115 pitches were strikes.
Last week, Johnson retired his first 15 batters in an 3-2 win
over St. Louis.
Stephenson, struggling since an 8-0 start, retired 10 of his
first 11 batters. He stumbled only in the fourth, as Arizona built
a 3-0 lead on Erubiel Durazo's two-run double and Danny Bautista's
RBI single.
"You go out there and try to throw a shutout every time,"
Stephenson said. "But most of the time you're not going to throw a
shutout."
His last came against the Diamondbacks, a 3-0 complete-game win
May 29. Stephenson admitted he wanted to go back out for the ninth
inning, but after throwing 141 pitches, he admitted "it was
definitely time for me to come out."
"He definitely didn't break," Arizona manager Buck Showalter
said. "He hung around and got rewarded for sticking with it. We
just didn't get any tack-on runs after the (fourth) inning."
Playing their 15th straight game without injured Mark McGwire,
the Cardinals rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the sixth when Mike
Matheny hit a two-run homer.
Placido Polanco singled, Edgar Renteria walked and Dan Plesac
relieved Johnson. After a walk to Jim Edmonds loaded the bases,
Russ Springer relived and gave up the slam on a 1-0 pitch to Tatis,
who hit two grand slams in one inning against Los Angeles on April
23, 1999.
It was the Cardinals' ninth grand slam of the season, extending
the franchise record. St. Louis has homered in 80 of their 99
games.
"When you hit a grand slam like that, it's a great feeling,"
Tatis said.
Catcher Kelly Stinnett's throwing error to third on a double
steal attempt allowed Renteria to score in the fifth with the
Cardinals' first run.
Game notes
St. Louis trainer Barry Weinberg said OF J.D. Drew, on the
disabled list since July 8 with a sprained left ankle injury, could
return as soon as Wednesday. ... Eric Davis left the clubhouse for
home before the game with the flu, a sore throat and a temperature
in excess of 100 degrees. ... The crowd of 44,454 at Busch Stadium
was the team's 19th sellout this season, raising attendance to
2,016,014.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
St. Louis Clubhouse
Padres prevent Giants from taking ove first in NL West
McGwire says surgery an option if right knee doesn't improve
RECAPS
Minnesota 4
Boston 2
Detroit 6
Tampa Bay 4
Cleveland 10
Toronto 3
NY Yankees 19
Baltimore 1
Kansas City 6
Chi. White Sox 1
Texas 9
Anaheim 6
Oakland 8
Seattle 7
Milwaukee 4
Pittsburgh 1
NY Mets 5
Montreal 0
Houston 7
Cincinnati 4
Chicago Cubs 8
Philadelphia 7
Atlanta 6
Florida 5
St. Louis 7
Arizona 3
Los Angeles 6
Colorado 4
San Diego 3
San Francisco 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Garrett Stephenson gave it everything he had on Tuesday.
wav: 92 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Tony La Russa says Stephenson pitched outstanding on Tuesday.
wav: 94 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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