CHICAGO — Travis Wood (Bryant) was consistent.
First inning - home run.
Second inning - home run.
Third inning - home run.
Fourth inning - home run.
Fifth inning - home run.
“Things didn’t go as planned,” Wood said Friday after tying the Chicago Cubs record for home runs allowed in a 9-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. “I missed some pitches, and they didn’t miss the pitches that I missed.”
Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Lance Berkman, Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig homered for the Cardinals, who became the first team in eight years to hit a home run in each of the first five innings.
Carpenter put St. Louis ahead 7-6 when he homered on the first pitch of the fourth, and Craig homered into the left-field bleachers in the fifth. The previous team to hit a home run in each of the first five innings was Houston against Colorado on Oct. 2, 2004, according to STATS LLC.
“He does have to keep the ball down,” Cubs Manager Dale Sveum said. “You’re going to get away with that a little more against some other teams. This team, there’s a reason why those left-handed numbers are what they are. If you make a mistake, they don’t miss them.”
Wood (4-6) gave up 8 runs and 7 hits in 5 innings and has allowed 22 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings since the All-Star break. The prior Cubs starter to give up five home runs in a game was Carlos Zambrano, in his final start for Chicago last Aug. 12.
“All those balls were crushed,”Holliday said. “None of those were cheap home runs. If the wind was blowing out, those would have been a lot more impressive.”
Lance Lynn (13-4) tied New York’s R.A. Dickey and Washington’s Gio Gonzalez for the NL lead in victories despite allowing 6 runs and 8 hits in 5 innings. Jason Motte completed four shutout innings for the Cardinals’ bullpen, getting three outs for his 23rd save in 27 chances.
BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 1
Brian McCann hit a three-run home run off Cole Hamels and Ben Sheets won his third consecutive start to lead host Atlanta past Philadelphia. Hamels (11-5) set a career high with six walks in his shortest start of the season. He allowed 5 runs, 3 earned, on 4 hits with 7 strikeouts in 5 innings.
REDS 3, ROCKIES 0
Bronson Arroyo pitched into the seventh inning, Ryan Ludwick scored two runs and visiting Cincinnati won its eighth consecutive.
PIRATES 6, ASTROS 5
Drew Sutton scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning and visiting Pittsburgh handed Houston its 11th consecutive loss.
PADRES 7, MARLINS 2
Yasmani Grandal hit a bases-clearing triple and Yonder Alonso drove in two runs for visiting San Diego.
BREWERS 6, NATIONALS 0
Corey Hart and Aramis Ramirez homered back-to-back and host Milwaukee snapped a seven-game losing streak.
American League YANKEES 10, RED SOX 3
Raul Ibanez and Russell Martin each hit two-run home runs, Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam and host New York powered past Boston.
WHITE SOX 9, RANGERS 5
Kevin Youkilis hit his 10th home run, Chris Sale improved to 12-3 and Chicago beat host Texas.
ATHLETICS 14, ORIOLES 9
Jemile Weeks hit an RBI single to give visiting Oakland the lead during a six-run ninth inning against All-Star closer Jim Johnson and the Athletics beat Baltimore.
BLUE JAYS 8, TIGERS 3
Carlos Villanueva won his fourth consecutive start, Travis Snider hit a two-run home run and Toronto beat visiting Detroit.
TWINS 11, INDIANS 0
Scott Diamond pitched a three-hitter, Justin Morneau and Josh Willingham each hit three-run home runs and host Minnesota shut out Cleveland.
Friday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis 9, Chicago Cubs 6 San Diego 7, Miami 2 Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 1 Pittsburgh 6, Houston 5 Milwaukee 6, Washington 0 Cincinnati 3, Colorado 0 NY Mets at Arizona, (n) LA Dodgers at San Francisco, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
NY Yankees 10, Boston 3 Oakland 14, Baltimore 9 Toronto 8, Detroit 3 Chicago White Sox 9, Texas 5 Minnesota 11, Cleveland 0 Tampa Bay at LA Angels, (n) Kansas City at Seattle, (n)
Sports, Pages 22 on 07/28/2012