Suppan, Walker boost Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — Larry Walker had three of St. Louis’ season-high 19 hits and drove in three runs, backing a strong seven-inning effort by Jeff Suppan in the Cardinals’ 9-3 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

David Eckstein had four hits and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 12 games for St. Louis, which has won seven of eight at home against the Dodgers counting the playoffs. Of the Cardinals’ 19 hits, only three were for extra bases.

Twelve of the hits came off Brad Penny (2-1), who lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs in his fourth start after a biceps injury last August.

Suppan, who beat Los Angeles in the clinching fourth game of the divisional round, got his first career regular-season victory against the Dodgers in four decisions. Suppan (3-3) gave up three runs on nine hits with a season-best seven strikeouts and no walks, and added an RBI single in a three-run fifth that put the Cardinals ahead 6-3.

Los Angeles’ Hee-Seop Choi, who withstood a collision at first base Tuesday that forced St. Louis’ Scott Rolen out of the game with a sprained left shoulder, was 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Rolen’s injury likely will keep him from accompanying the St. Louis Cardinals to New York at the start of a nine-game trip starting Friday. An examination by team physician Dr. George Paletta was scheduled around game time Wednesday night, with medical tests to follow on Thursday.

“I don’t feel any better,” Rolen said. “If anything I probably feel a little worse.”

John Mabry replaced Rolen at third base Wednesday in the third game of a four-game series against the Dodgers. That’s as far as manager Tony La Russa wanted to peer into the future.

“I’m just trying to get through today,” La Russa said. “I don’t know if he’s going to be out for a while. One thing at a time.”

Both starters lived dangerously Wednesday. The Dodgers got a leadoff hit in each of the first five innings, and the Cardinals had eight hits in the first three innings.

Cesar Izturis lead off the game with a double and scored on Jeff Kent’s one-out sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers the lead. The Cardinals answered with three straight one-out hits and a run-scoring groundout by Roger Cedeno to tie it in the bottom of the first, then took the lead on Walker’s two-out single in the second.

Izturis led off the third with an infield hit, Choi followed with an RBI triple and scored on J.D. Drew’s groundout to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. The Cardinals tied it in the bottom of the third on a pair of two-out hits, John Mabry’s single and Mark Grudzielanek’s triple.

RBI singles by Suppan and Eckstein in the fifth both challenged the arm of center fielder Milton Bradley, who was a shade late each time, and a third run scored on Walker’s two-out bunt when Suppan crossed the plate before third baseman Olmedo Saenz tagged out Eckstein going for third.

Einar Diaz added a two-run single in the eighth off D.J. Houlton.

Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list today. Isringhausen had a perfect 7-for-7 start before suffering a right abdominal strain on April 27.

Isringhausen threw 38 pitches in his third bullpen session on Tuesday and, as in the first two, had no difficulties, and pitching coach Dave Duncan wants his hammer in the bullpen as soon as possible.

“I don’t think you have to wait on anything,” Duncan said. “I don’t think there are any limitations. We’ll treat him the same as we always do.”