Sports
Westplex Sports Page For August 4, 2010:
By Bob Hudson
Aug 4, 2010 - 7:31:22 AM

Angel Sanchez went 4-for-6 with six RBI to lead a 22-hit attack as the Astros crushed the Cardinals 18-4 in the second-of-three at Busch Stadium. Chris Johnson added two hits and three RBI four Houston, which scored five times in the second inning to erase a 1-0 deficit and take the lead for good. The Astros blew a 6-3 game wide open with four in the sixth, four in the seventh and four more in the eighth to win their seventh straight. Bud Norris pitched six innings of four-run ball for his fourth win of the season. Jaime Garcia was tagged for eight runs, including four earned, in five-plus frames to fall to 9-and-5. Mitchell Boggs was battered for five more runs in an inning-plus for St. Louis. Colby Rasmus went 3-for-5 with a home run and Matt Holliday also went deep for the Cards.

The Cardinals made a roster move on Tuesday, optioning outfielder Nick Stavinoha to Triple-A Memphis and recalling outfielder Allen Craig. Stavinoha has played in 60 games with the Cardinals this season, batting .258 with two home runs and seven RBI. Craig has appeared in 15 games with St. Louis this season, hitting .179 with one homer and seven RBI. In 77 minor league games this season, Craig has batted a robust .322 with 14 home runs and 76 runs driven in.

Cardinals third baseman David Freese won't play again this season after suffering another injury during a rehab appearance with Double-A Springfield on Monday. The "Post-Dispatch" reports Freese tore tissue in his right ankle while rounding third base, damaging the tendon that helps hold the joint together. Freese was working his way back from a bone bruise in his right ankle and a broken left toe suffered during a weightlifting accident. Felipe Lopez has been playing third base in Freese's absence, but Aaron Miles played the position last night as Lopez had his right knee drained.  It's possible that recalled Allen Craig could get some time at third, his original position.

The Cardinals will try to slow down the red-hot Houston Astros when the teams meet again in the finale of their three-game series at Busch Stadium. The Astros currently own the majors' longest winning streak at seven games and have outscored the Redbirds 27-8 in the first two games of the series. At 59-and-48, the Cards remain a half-game behind the NL Central-leading Reds, who lost 8-7 at Pittsburgh last night. After tonight, the Cardinals will hit the road for a six-game stretch starting Friday at Florida.  St. Louis will then head to Cincinnati for a key three-game series.

Chris Narveson pitched one-run ball into the sixth inning and also drove in a run as the Brewers held off the Cubs 4-3 in the second of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Narveson struck out six over five and two thirds innings of six-hit, one-run ball to move to 9-and-7 on the season. He also had an RBI single in the fourth for Milwaukee, which won Monday's game 18-1.John Axford gave up a solo homer in the ninth, but held on for his 16th save. Casey McGee drove in two runs and Prince Fielder had two hits and an RBI for the Brew Crew. Thomas Diamond struck out 10, but gave up three runs in six frames to take the loss in his major league debut for Chicago.  Starlin Castro and Derrek Lee each had two hits and an RBI for the Cubs, who have lost seven in-a-row.

Former Rams head coach Dick Vermeil says he would be open to a role with the team if offered.  Vermeil told the "Post-Dispatch" he has not been approached by prospective majority owner Stan Kroenke, but would listen if he was approached about a front office position. Vermeil led the Rams to their only Super Bowl title in 2000 and later went on to coach the Kansas City Chiefs before retiring in 2005. Vermeil praised Kroenke as a great human being who deserves to be the majority owner of the Rams. The 73-year-old Vermeil also told the "Dispatch" that he was part of another group trying to get in on buying the Rams. He wouldn't identify the group, but did say it was not affiliated with Illinois businessman Shahid Khan or St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts.

The Blues made a trade yesterday, acquiring forward Graham Mink from the Florida Panthers for defenseman T.J. Fast. The 31-year-old Mink played for Rochester of the AHL last season, totaling 20 goals and 17 assists. He added three goals in six playoff games. The 22-year-old Fast appeared in 18 games for Peoria last season, with an assist and four penalty minutes.

The Missouri Tigers are hoping to play host to a high-profile basketball opponent in Kansas City this season. The "Kansas City Star" reports MU is in the process of negotiating a non-conference matchup to be played at the Sprint Center the week following Thanksgiving. Spokesman Dave Reiter wouldn't name a possible opponent, but told the "Star" the Tigers are interested in a premium game in Kansas City if they can find the right fit.  Missouri and Kansas will play the football Border War game around that same time, with a November 27th matchup at Arrowhead.