Paulino Powers Pirates Past Cards 15-1

Wednesday, August 1st 2007, 9:33 pm

By: News On 6

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Ronny Paulino quieted some booing hometown fans with a grand slam during a five-run Pittsburgh first inning, and Tony Armas won as a starter for the first time in more than 10 months to carry the Pirates past St. Louis 15-1 Wednesday night.

Armas (1-3) became only the second Pirates pitcher to win since the All-Star break, limiting the Cardinals to Aaron Miles' first home run over 6 1-3 innings for his first victory since signing with Pittsburgh last winter. Armas, in his first start since May 17, hadn't won since beating the Mets while with Washington on Sept. 24, 2006.

Pittsburgh had season highs in runs (15) and hits (20), scoring seven runs in the eighth against Mike Maroth. It was the Pirates most lopsided victory since June 11, 2005, when they beat Tampa Bay 18-2.

The loss was the Cardinals most lopsided since June 20, 2006, when they dropped a 20-6 decision to the White Sox.

The Cardinals, were denied their first five-game winning streak since they won seven in a row in early July 2006. The Pirates had dropped their last four and seven of eight and were 2-14 since the break, with Paul Maholm getting their only previous two wins since July 8.

Braden Looper (8-9) dominated the Pirates in his first two starts against them this season, allowing only one run in 13 innings. But his first inning rapidly came apart after he retired the first two batters as Freddy Sanchez, Adam LaRoche and Jason Bay singled in succession to make it 1-0.

Paulino, booed loudly when introduced because of his two fielding misplays that helped St. Louis to a 6-4 victory Tuesday, followed with a drive into a left field walkway to put the Pirates up 5-0. Paulino's grand slam was the first of his career and Pittsburgh's first this season.

Even after he homered, Paulino heard mixed boos and cheers his next time up _ a reflection of his season-long offensive slump since he hit .310 as a rookie last year and his repeatedly sloppy defense. He drew an error for muffing a popup and dropped a throw to the plate in the span of little more than a minute to allow St. Louis to score the go-ahead run Tuesday.

Looper was lifted after pitching ineffectively for four innings, allowing seven runs and eight hits. He hasn't won consecutive starts since winning May.

Armas, yanked from the Pirates' rotation after going 0-3 with an 8.46 ERA in his first seven starts, appeared to get straightened out while allowing only one run in 12 innings during July. The right-hander gave up four hits, struck out five and walked one in easily his best start this season.

Armas, replacing the winless John Van Benschoten in the rotation, didn't pitch into the seventh inning in any of his previous starts this season, lasting four innings or fewer four times.

Notes: Paulino's homer was his sixth and his first since June 5. ... The Cardinals' Chris Duncan cost the Pirates some money when his bat went flying into the stands during the first inning. The bat struck the middle of a vendor's lemonade tray, causing nearly all the drinks to spill. No one was hurt. ... Miles' homer came one day short of the first anniversary of his last homer, on Aug. 2, 2006. ... Before losing, the Cardinals had won 40 of 57 against the Pirates since 2004 and were 38-15 in Pittsburgh since 2001. ... St. Louis is 7-3 against Pittsburgh this season. ... Bay doubled for the first time since June 26. ... Sanchez had his seventh career four-hit game. ... Jack Wilson also homered, a solo shot off reliever Brad Thompson in the sixth.