Westplex Today Sports Page:   June 14, 2008

Ryan Howard blasted two-home runs, drove in five RBI, and scored four times in part of a 21-hit game as the Phillies crushed the Cards 20-2 at Busch Stadium.  Chase Utley, Howard, and Pat Burrell slammed back-to-back-to-back homers in the first inning and Carlos Ruiz plated four for Philly, which scored nine runs in the fourth frame in the lopsided win.  The Phillies got seven innings of two run, one earned, eight-hit ball from Kyle Kendrick to take the first of a three game set with the Redbirds.  Skip Schumaker hit a solo home run for St. Louis and Troy Glaus added an RBI single in defeat.  Todd Wellemeyer gave up eight runs on eight hits in only three-plus innings to suffer the loss.  The Cards have lost two straight after winning their previous four. 

The Cardinals will try to erase that bad memory by hosting the Phillies again this afternoon at 2:55 .   KWRE will start the broadcast with pre-game shows at 2:12 .

A former Cardinal helped his old team stay 3 ½ games behind the Cubs in the National League Central.   Scott Rolen’s solo home run followed a 2-run blast by Matt Stairs, as the Blue Jays scored all three runs on back-to-back homers in the third inning and hung on to clip the Cubs 3-2 in Toronto.   The Cubs snapped a four-game winning streak in defeat. 

In the minor leagues:   After a 12-hour bus ride, the River City Rascals were defeated 9-4 by the Washington Wild Things.   Luke Barganier hit a grand slam in the top of the 9^th inning for the only Rascals runs of the game.   Both teams continue their series in Washington , Pennsylvania tonight.

In golf:   Stuart Appleby has a one-shot lead over Tiger Woods, midway through the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla , California .   Tiger surged into contention with a 3-under-par 68 Friday.  

In auto racing:   Kyle Busch has the pole position for Sunday’s Lifelock 400 on the Sprint Cup circuit in Kentucky, after rain washed out qualifying.   Busch will compete in three NASCAR races in the same weekend again, after a disappointing 42^nd, 20^th, and runner-up finishes in three races last week.

In pro basketball:   The Boston Celtics can win their first NBA championship in 22 years, if they can defeat the Lakers in Los Angeles Sunday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.   The Celtics put themselves on the verge of gaining the crown, after coming back from a 24-point deficit to shock the Lakers in a Game 4 victory.

In indoor football:   The River City Rage end their regular season tonight at the Family Arena in St. Charles , with a 7:00 kickoff against Billings .   To celebrate Fathers Day, dads get a free ticket with at least one other ticket purchased.   The Rage will try to even their record at 7-7, and they already have clinched a playoff berth and home-field advantage in the first round of the UIF Playoffs.