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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Back-to-back home runs are becoming commonplace
for the St. Louis Cardinals.
|  | | Mark McGwire connects for his Major League-leading 19th homer Tuesday night. |
Mark McGwire and Ray Lankford connected on consecutive pitches
Tuesday night as the Cardinals did it for the 13th time this year,
one shy of the NL record, in a 10-3 victory over the Florida
Marlins.
"It's good luck, I guess," McGwire said. "We've got guys that
can hit in this lineup. Some days we hit real good. Some days we
stink."
McGwire hit his major-league leading 19th homer starting the
second inning against Ryan Dempster (5-3).
"He hit it like (Ken) Griffey would pull a ball," Dempster
said.
Lankford followed on the next pitch with his eighth homer. Jim
Edmonds added his 14th in the third inning as the Cardinals hiked
their major league-leading total to 92 while winning for the fifth
time in seven games.
Colorado hit back-to-back homers 14 times in 1997. The Seattle
Mariners set the major league record with 19 in 1996.
"You'd better make good pitches and you'd better make a lot of
good pitches," Marlins manager John Boles said. "Because if you
don't, they're going to be in double figures consistently."
Lankford, who's slumped the first two months, added a single and
sacrifice fly to raise his average to .218. He's been involved in
only two back-to-back combos.
"It's good to be part of the party," Lankford said. "It's
been a little frustrating, but I've just got to keep plugging
away."
McGwire has five homers in five games and 541 for his career,
seven behind Mike Schmidt, who is seventh. McGwire was playing his
200th career game at Busch Stadium, where he has 99 homers, 209
RBIs and 208 walks.
"It's just one of those things," he said. "Sometimes you get
pitches to hit that you don't do anything with. It worked in our
favor tonight."
McGwire also singled and scored in the fifth to beat an unusual
shift against four outfielders, with second baseman Luis Castillo
stationed in right and his position vacated.
Darryl Kile (7-2) allowed two runs and four hits and in eight
innings, while striking out a season-high 11. He also had a two-run
single after starting the season 0-for-20 at the plate.
"It's unfortunate when the pitcher not only beat you on the
mound, but beats you at the plate as well," Dempster said. "I
kind of wish I was facing myself tonight."
Kile all but apologized for the hit.
"I was way late and the ball happened to be in a good spot,
that's all it was," Kile said. "I was hoping to either strike out
or not hit into a double play."
Mike Matheny added a two-run double in the fifth for the
Cardinals.
Dempster, who had won his previous four starts, gave up eight
runs and nine hits in five innings as his ERA rose from 2.74 to
3.61.
Kile, who had struggled his last two starts, dominated after
allowing a home run to Mark Kotsay with one out in the first. He
allowed only one hit the next six innings, a leadoff double by
Cliff Floyd in the fourth.
Kile allowed 12 runs in 11 2/3 innings during his previous two
starts.
Kevin Millar homered in the ninth.
Game
notes
Kile struck out 10 on April 25 against the Brewers. ...
Dempster, who struck out five and walked three, gave up eight
earned runs in 29 2-3 innings during his four-game winning streak.
... Castillo was 1-for-3 with a walk and has reached base in 12
straight games and 27 of 28 overall. ... The Cardinals are 6-1 vs.
the NL East, with the other five games against the Phillies. ...
St. Louis is 6-2 in games following off days and 6-1 on Tuesday.
... Cardinals starters have 24 victories, more than any other
staff. ... Kile is 6-2 against the Marlins. ... Matheny and Eli
Marrero are the only catching tandem in the majors without an
error.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Florida Clubhouse
St. Louis Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 4
Seattle 2
Toronto 3
Boston 2
Detroit 10
Cleveland 4
Tampa Bay 6
Oakland 4
Chi. White Sox 8
NY Yankees 2
Texas 4
Kansas City 3
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Minnesota 4
NY Mets 5
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Atlanta 6
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Florida 3
Colorado 10
Chicago Cubs 7
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Pittsburgh 1
Cincinnati 3
Los Angeles 1
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San Francisco 2
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