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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MONTREAL (AP) -- Will Clark is definitely up for a pennant race.
|  | | New Cardinal Will Clark, left, and Jim Edmonds accounted for three homers and seven RBI. |
Clark hit a home run in his first start for St. Louis and Jim Edmonds homered twice and drove in five runs as the Cardinals beat the Montreal Expos 10-7 Wednesday night.
Clark, acquired from Baltimore on Monday to play first base in
Mark McGwire's absence, went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
"There's a lot more atmosphere here, a lot more camaraderie -- pulling for each other on the bench, and stuff like that," Clark
said. "You can definitely sense that sitting on the bench."
Clark, who doubled in his first Cardinals at-bat Tuesday night,
hit his first NL home run in seven years leading off the second
inning. He reached safely in each of his first five plate
appearances for St. Louis before popping up in the ninth.
The NL Central-leading Cardinals are 9-14 since McGwire --
currently on the 15-day disabled list with right knee tendinitis -- has been out of the lineup.
St. Louis moved five games ahead of second-place Cincinnati,
which lost 2-1 in New York.
"I went to the playoffs in '96 and '98, so I've been in a few
races," Clark said. "It's fun to be back in one. We got a chance
to pick up a game tonight, and we did."
Edmonds, who returned to the lineup after missing two games
because of a sore right hip, matched his career high for RBI in a
game.
Edmonds hit a three-run homer in the third off Mike Johnson
(5-6). He hit his 32nd homer -- a two-run shot -- in the fifth for
his 11th career two-homer game, and third this season.
"This is a great game for us to win," Edmonds said. "And
we've got to battle the next three games against Atlanta, and then
we've got Florida. Even though you go into a place where they've
got a losing record, it seems like they're always ready to play."
Pat Hentgen (10-8) gave up five hits, including Geoff Blum's
solo homer in the seventh, in seven innings. He reached 10 wins for
the eighth straight season.
"I've been fortunate to play for some good clubs that have
scored a lot of runs for me," Hentgen said. "They've done a nice
job of that for me this year and the bullpen's done a good job,
too. That's what it takes to win games as a starting pitcher.
You've got to have full support from your club, and I've had
that."
Montreal's Lee Stevens hit a three-run homer in the eighth off
left-hander Jason Christiansen, who was making his Cardinals debut.
Hentgen allowed just one hit through the first four innings
before the Expos, trailing 7-1, loaded the bases with two outs in
the fifth. Jose Vidro followed with a drive that right fielder J.D.
Drew ran down, making a diving catch to end the inning.
"That was probably the game-saver, right there," Clark said.
Drew drove in the Cardinals' 10th run with an RBI single in the
eighth. Stevens hit his 20th homer in the bottom half.
"We managed to score seven, but that's not the essence of the
game," Expos manager Felipe Alou said. "It could have been a
wider score."
Game notes
Hentgen tied Boston's Pedro Martinez and Baltimore's Mike
Mussina, who also have eight consecutive seasons of at least 10
wins. Atlanta's Greg Maddux is tops among active pitchers with 13
straight seasons, followed by teammate Tom Glavine (12). ...
Edmonds had his third career five-RBI game. ... Cardinals OF Ray
Lankford did not play. He bruised his right knee while making a
diving catch Tuesday night. ... The Expos are 17-33 since June 5,
when they were a season-high eight games over .500 for the second
time this season.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Montreal Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 4
NY Yankees 1
Minnesota 10
Baltimore 6
Oakland 5
Toronto 4
Detroit 5
Anaheim 3
Cleveland 5
Tampa Bay 3
Texas 7
Chi. White Sox 2
Boston 5
Seattle 2
NY Mets 2
Cincinnati 1
Los Angeles 11
Pittsburgh 5
Milwaukee 6
San Francisco 4
Chicago Cubs 3
Colorado 2
Florida 5
Houston 4
St. Louis 10
Montreal 7
Arizona 2
Atlanta 0
San Diego 5
Philadelphia 2
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