CINCINNATI • Rookie Tommy Pham, not seen much in prime time since he struck out four times in his last start for the Cardinals on Sept. 2, was inserted into the lineup Sunday as manager Mike Matheny grasped at another straw that might stir some offense on a club that had averaged 2.3 runs a game while losing eight of 10.
Pham was the man.
After the Cardinals had caught the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth inning at 2-2, launched his second homer of the season, a two-run drive off Jefferson City, Mo., product Sam LeCure in the sixth inning to push the Cardinals ahead 4-2 in one of those "must win" games for the Cardinals.