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Diamondbacks fade in 7-6 loss to Cardinals | The Associated Press
Daniel Hudson had a very good day at the plate. Perhaps too good.
              The Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher had two hits, a sacrifice bunt and two RBIs against Chris Carpenter, helping to build a four-run cushion. But the 24-year-old Authentic Torii Hunter Jersey Hudson was gone without getting an out in the sixth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied against the bullpen for a 7-6 victory Saturday night.
              Hudson thought being on the basepaths so much might have hurt him on the mound. Plus, Cardinals hitters worked him for 109 pitches.
              "I Angels of Anaheim Jered Weaver Jersey guess I got a little bit tired, I don't know," Hudson said. "I don't know if that contributed to me having nothing out there in the sixth inning. It was a little humid, but their guys have to deal with it, too."
              It was the Cardinals' biggest comeback of the season and Authentic Jered Weaver Jersey the Diamondbacks' biggest blown lead. No surprise that the 24-year-old right-hander was not impressed with his nine RBIs and 12 hits, both major league-leading totals, to Authentic Kendry Morales Jersey go with a .333 average.
              "I don't really go up there with any kind of plan or anything like that," Hudson said. "I just kind of swing hard in case you hit it. It would have been nice if we'd have gotten the win, but whatever."
              Hudson failed Mavericks Shawn Marion Jersey to retire any of the three batters he faced in the sixth and gave up three runs, two earned. Left fielder Willie Bloomquist robbed Lance Berkman with a leaping catch at the wall to save Kendry Morales Jersey at least one run ending the fifth.
              "I felt OK, didn't feel great obviously," Hudson Angels of Anaheim Torii Hunter Jersey said. "Give credit Angels of Anaheim Kendry Morales Jersey to their guys. Every guy it felt like I had two strikes and they fouled off maybe four pitches, and it drove my pitch count up a lot."
              Albert Pujols tied it in the eighth inning with his first home run since returning the disabled list and rookie pinch-hitter Tony Cruz Torii Hunter Jersey hit a game-ending RBI double with one out in the ninth.
              Pujols' 18th homer, and first in five games back from a broken left wrist, was a two-run shot off Yhency Brewers Zack Greinke Jersey Brazoban that tied it at 6. Pujols was 3 for 4 with a walk and three RBIs, a breakout game after going 1 for 12 his first four games back.
              Pujols singled off a slider against Brazoban to start the seventh and homered off a fastball in the eighth.
              "It's tough because the first time he smoked a slider," Arizona catcher Miguel Montero said. "So I'm thinking, 'Let me try to go fastball,' and he hit it even harder.
              "He's a smart hitter, you can't repeat pitches to him. He's pretty special."
              Cruz's first hit in six pinch-hit at-bats came off Joe Paterson (0-3), who gave up two hits Jered Weaver Jersey and a walk. It's the biggest comeback of the season for the Cardinals, who lost three of their first four with Pujols and dropped out of the Authentic Shawn Marion Jersey NL Central lead. They won despite stranding 12 runners.
              Arizona committed two fielding errors in the eighth, one of them allowing a run after center fielder Eric Young fumbled the ball after catching a flyout.
              The Diamondbacks' bullpen was a "little light" according to manager Kirk Gibson, and Brazoban allowed three runs in two innings.
              "Everybody was available," Gibson said. "But you just can't keep throwing the same guys out there all the time."
              Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter had only one perfect inning, aided by a double-play ball in the first, and gave up four earned runs in six innings. He was not as sharp as in three previous starts, all victories while allowing only two runs in 24 innings.
              Berkman singled to start the ninth and Yadier Molina walked with one out ahead of Cruz's winner. Fernando Salas (5-2) worked a scoreless ninth with one strikeout.
              Hudson had a two-run single in a three-run second, Young had an RBI double in the third and Kelly Johnson's RBI double made it 5-1 in the Authentic Zack Greinke Jersey sixth.
              Ninth-place hitter Skip Schumaker had three hits, including RBI singles his last two trips, for St. Louis.
              Notes: Carpenter needs one strikeout to tie Jesse Haines (979) for fifth on the franchise's career list. ... The Diamondbacks entered with an NL-leading 292 extra-base hits and had three doubles. ... Hudson has worked only nine innings combined in his last two starts. ... Sean Burroughs executed his first sacrifice bunt since May 15, 2005, against Florida. ... Ryan Roberts is 5 for 10 as a pinch hitter for Arizona and drove in his first run in that role in the seventh to make it 6-3.

Mets lose Torii Hunter Jersey 4-2 to Giants in final game before break | The Associated Press
Despite a slow start, a slew of injuries and two straight losses to San Francisco end the first half, the New York Mets head into the All-Star break with a winning record.
              Mike Albert Pujols Jersey Pelfrey Cardinals Torii Hunter Jersey gave up two early runs and the Mets failed to capitalize on numerous scoring chances against Giants All-Star Matt Cain in a 4-2 loss to San Francisco on Sunday night in the final game before the All-Star break.
              New York lost the past two games to Cain (8-5) and fellow All-Star Tim Authentic Kendry Morales Jersey Lincecum for their first road series lost since May. They still finished the first half at 46-45 despite starting the season 5-13 and dealing with injuries to key players like Jose Reyes, David Wright and Ike Davis.
              "It could be better and it could be worse," outfielder Jason Bay said. "If Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki Jersey you Authentic Torii Hunter Jersey were to tell me we would be missing Player A and B and still be where we are, I think most Jason Kidd Jersey of us would take it. There are definitely reasons for optimism, no question. When we start getting guys back, it will be like making a trade."
              The Mets had their chances to end the first half on a bright note, but were unable to score against Cain.
              They wasted a leadoff double by Daniel Murphy in the second, left the bases loaded in the third when Murphy popped up to end the inning, were unable to score after Lucas Duda's one-out triple in the fourth Anaheim Rafael Furcal Jersey and squandered Turner's one-out double in the fifth. Cain's night ended when he Cardinals Kendry Morales Jersey struck out Ruben Tejada on his 118th pitch to end the sixth Rafael Furcal Jersey with Ronny Paulino on second base.
              "We had Cain on the ropes several times, but he got out of it, which is what pitchers like that do," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "When we're playing good, we were getting the two-out hits. We didn't do that the last two nights here."
              Cain (8-5) delivered the latest strong pitching performance for the World Series champions. He escaped trouble all night, pitching around four extra-base hits Kendry Morales Jersey and stranding six Anaheim Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey runners in scoring position to win for the fifth time in his last six decisions. Cain allowed five hits and three walks, lowering his ERA to 2.06 over his last eight starts.
              Nick Evans hit a pinch-hit homer off Jeremy Affeldt in the eighth and Justin Turner added an RBI double off Brian Wilson in the ninth. Wilson recovered to strike out Carlos Beltran to finish the game and record his 26th save in 30 chances.
              Pablo Sandoval celebrated his first All-Star selection with an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to 21 games and Nate Schierholtz had four hits and an RBI after being moved up to the cleanup spot for the Giants, who have won four of five to take a three-game lead over Arizona in the NL West heading into the All-Star break. This is the first time since 2003 that San Francisco enters the break in first place.
              "It feels good," Cain said. "We've put in a lot of work. We're finishing on a good note. We'll take the break and try to come back and do the same thing in the second half."
              Sandoval got the news earlier in the day that he would be making his first All-Star game appearance as in injury replacement for Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who is on the DL with a hamstring injury. The All-Star selection was the latest accolade in a turnaround season for Sandoval, who lost nearly 40 pounds this offseason after he struggled with his weight and hitting in 2010.
              Sandoval just missed out on the All-Star game Authentic Rafael Furcal Jersey in 2009 despite having a .333 average with 15 homers and 55 RBIs at the break. Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel picked his own player, Shane Victorino, instead of Sandoval that year. With San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy making picks, Sandoval got his chance despite missing 40 games with an injured right wrist.
              "It was a special moment," Bochy said. "This means a lot to him. He was very disappointed last time he had a chance and didn't make it. He's very excited about this. He got emotional out there before the game."
              Sandoval received a warm ovation in a pregame ceremony and then backed his manager's pick when he doubled in Andres Torres in the third inning to score the game's first run. Schierholtz followed Authentic Albert Pujols Jersey with an RBI single off Cardinals Albert Pujols Jersey Pelfrey (5-8) to give the Giants a 2-0 lead.
              The Giants added two runs in the seventh off Jonathon Niese in his first career relief appearance. Miguel Tejada and Aaron Rowand had RBI singles in the inning.
              Notes: New York had seven  extra-base hits. ... The Mets have set their rotation for after the break, with Mavericks Jason Kidd Jersey R.A. Dickey starting Friday against the Phillies, followed by Niese, Pelfrey, Chris Capuano and Dillon Gee. ... The Giants sold out all 44 home Authentic Jason Kidd Jersey games before the All-Star break.

 Cardinals ride Berkman's huge first half | The Associated Press
Lance Berkman was a big question mark when the St. Louis Cardinals signed him to a one-year deal as a free agent last winter.
              Look whose gamble paid Zdeno Chara Jersey off.
              Shrugging aside a perceived career decline, the 35-year-old Berkman might be the top contender for Comeback Player of the Year. Way, way off the radar at the start of the year, the outfielder was in the National League's starting lineup Tuesday night in the  All-Star game, where he was making his first appearance since 2008.
              "He's on Felix Hernandez Jersey pace to be one of the top three in the MVP voting," said general manager John Mozeliak, who signed Berkman to a relatively budget-friendly $8 million deal. "Unless there's somebody ahead of that, I would think you can't do much better than that."
              Berkman has been a perfect fit for a team he used to bedevil during a decade with Houston. The lineup is deeper with the player known as Big Puma providing punch behind Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday. Berkman has far exceeded expectations at the plate, he is on track for a seventh season Nationals Adam Lind Jersey with 100 RBIs and first since 2008 and he has been solid with the glove in his first full season as a starting outfielder since 2004.
              The Cardinals are tied for first in the NL Central despite a string of big injuries beginning with pitcher Adam Wainwright undergoing elbow surgery in spring training. Berkman has helped hold it all together.
              The Astros were first to say no to Berkman. St. Louis quickly said yes.
              "There's a lot of people doubted he could do this, doubted he could do that," manager Tony La Russa said. "Bat speed's gone, legs are gone, can't play the outfield. I mean, geez, we believed in him."
              After the season, there'll be a lot of believers. Berkman will be among several big-ticket concerns on a list that begins with Pujols, due to be a free agent for the first time in his career. Longtime ace Chris Carpenter also will be a free agent and the Cardinals must decide whether to pick up the option on Wainwright.
              In a less complicated scenario, re-signing Berkman would be a priority.
              "Obviously, he's having a great season," Mozeliak Mariners Ichiro Suzuki Jersey said. "When the time comes will address the situation."
              Last year, Berkman battled a left knee injury and batted a career-worst .248 with 14 homers and Adam Lind Jersey 58 RBIs for the Astros and Yankees. He briefly considered retiring, but started training.
              The Cardinals were among Berkman's top choices and La Russa has long been an admirer.
              The move Ken Griffey Jersey raised eyebrows, given Berkman has been primarily a first basemen in recent years and that's where Pujols plays. Critics scoffed that the Cardinals had signed a DH.
              Before the season, La Russa set the bar low, saying he'd Authentic Ken Griffey Jersey be happy if Berkman made the routine catches in right field and hit the cutoff man. The manager said he would make sure there was plenty of rest for Berkman, too.
              Instead, Berkman has played in 82 games, fourth most on the team. While not a threat to gun down runners at the plate, his arm is strong enough.
              La Russa is known for innovative lineups, often batting the pitcher eighth with a second leadoff type at the bottom to increase scoring opportunities for his big bats later in the game. He's also willing to sacrifice airtight defense to get dangerous bats in the lineup.
              Pujols has made four starts at third base, Allen Craig has started at four positions, David Freese got a start at first base and rookie backup catcher Tony Cruz has made his first career starts Mariners Felix Hernandez Jersey at three spots, including right field on Sunday.
              Authentic Ichiro Suzuki Jersey Berkman predicted before the season that playing the outfield would be easier on his legs than Authentic Adam Lind Jersey at first base and has been more durable than the stars batting ahead of him. Holliday, a fellow All-Star, missed Ichiro Suzuki Jersey 25 games with an appendectomy. While Pujols was on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left wrist, Berkman stepped in at first base, and he played 12 games in left while Holliday was out.
              "He's a leader in the clubhouse and a guy who's been there, done that," infielder Nick Punto said. "He's definitely holding this thing together."
              Not many have been better with the bat.
              Hitting fourth and fifth, Berkman leads the league with Blue Jays Adam Lind Jersey 24 homers and is among the leaders with 63 RBIs, along with a .290 Authentic Zdeno Chara Jersey average. Six of his last nine hits have cleared the fence, including a rocket estimated at 452 feet, longest ever at 6-year-old Busch Stadium.
              The switch-hitter has four multihomer games, including one from both Mariners Ken Griffey Jersey sides of the plate at Baltimore on June 30, and leads the majors with 18 road homers. He's among the NL leaders in walks, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
              Berkman signaled loud and clear that he was back from the outset, batting .453 in April. Not much letup since.
              "He's easily the pickup of the year, not only on the field but in the clubhouse," second baseman Skip Authentic Felix Hernandez Jersey Schumaker said. "Great leader, and Bruins Zdeno Chara Jersey I can't imagine anybody being better for this team. You couldn't ask for anything more."