Sports
Westplex Sports For September 2, 2010:
By Bob Hudson
Sep 2, 2010 - 1:37:39 PM

Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning as the Astros completed a three-game sweep of the Cardinals with a 5-2 win yesterday afternoon in Houston.  Nelson Figueroa gave up a two-run homer to Matt Holliday in the first inning, but settled down to pitch five frames and get the win.  Brandon Lyon notched his 11th save.  Jeff Suppan came off the DL and took the loss, giving up four runs in five frames to fall to 1-and-7.  St. Louis has dropped five in-a-row.

It's now or never if the Cardinals are going to make a push in the NL Central.  Following a disasterous road trip that has left them eight games off the division lead, the Cardinals will try to trim that deficit when they open a three-game set against the first-place Reds tomorrow night at Busch Stadium.  Jaime Garcia, who is 12-and-6, will oppose Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo, who is 14-and-8.  The Cards swept the Reds in Cincinnati the last time these teams met August 9th-11th.

Five years after leaving their longtime radio home, the Cardinals will return to KMOX 1120 AM next season.  The Cardinals announced the move yesterday.  The "Post-Dispatch" reports it's a five-year agreement, with Mike Shannon and John Rooney expected to remain the broadcast team.  After 51 seasons on KMOX radio, the Cardinals left for KTRS 550 AM in 2005.  However, fans have been upset ever since with KTRS' signal strength much weaker than KMOX.

Kosuke Fukudome  went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Cubs past the Pirates, 5-3, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.  Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny left the game in the top of the third inning after being struck with a line drive off the bat of Jose Tabata.  Thomas Diamond got his first major league win in relief and Carlos Marmol posted his 25th save.  The Cubs host the Mets Friday.

The Rams will close out the preseason tonight against the Baltimore Ravens at the Edward Jones Dome.  Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford will make his second straight start, coming off an impressive 189-yard, two-touchdown passing effort against the Patriots last week.  Projected starter A.J. Feeley remains sidelined with thumb and elbow injuries.  The Rams must get down to the final 53-man roster limit on Saturday.  They open the regular season against Arizona September 12th.

The Missouri Tigers have permanently suspended leading rusher Derrick Washington from its football program.  Washington is facing charges in Boone County for a June 19th alleged sexual assault.  In a statement, athletic officials say Washington will retain his scholarship as long as he remains in school but will not play football.  They declined further comment.

The Missouri basketball program will have to do without recruit Tony Mitchell, at least for now.  Tigers head coach Mike Anderson released a statement Wednesday confirming that the small forward out of Dallas won't be eligible to play basketball for MU for the fall semester.  His case remains under review with the NCAA, but Mizzou's fall enrollment deadline has already passed.