ST.LOUIS -- After slugging two homers in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Dodgers, outfielder Rick Ankiel had a strong caution for Cardinals fans.

"Don't hold me to days like this," Ankiel said. "[I'm] not going to have games like that very often."

Either way, Ankiel continued a story that even Disney couldn't have scripted any better.

Playing in just his third game since being promoted from Triple-A Memphis, Ankiel kept the feel-good story of the season going, when he hammered a Derek Lowe pitch 396 feet for a two-run homer in the first.

When he finished trotting around the bases and made his way into the dugout, the 44,260 fans in attendance refused to sit down. Instead, they gave the 28-year-old a loud standing ovation, until Ankiel emerged from the dugout to give a curtain call. Ankiel enjoyed the moment, raising both hands well above his head, saluting the crowd.

"When you get appreciation like that, it makes it all worth it," Ankiel said. "That's why we're here."

Fortunately for the Cards, Ankiel's day wasn't close to finished. He hit his second homer in the seventh off reliever Roberto Hernandez, a 389-foot shot that landed in the Cards bullpen.

In the eighth, Ankiel proved that he can do more than hit. Dodgers catcher Russell Martin belted a fly ball to right-center field. Ankiel started off with a funny route, but made up for it with his speed, catching the ball over his shoulder before tumbling on the warning track into the wall.

"Looks like he's a player," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He knows what the big leagues are about."

Ankiel finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Since his recall, it seems like he has injected some life into the St. Louis clubhouse.

"It's fun to watch," Cardinals starter Braden Looper said. "There's a lot of excitement around it. He's definitely come in and done a great job. I don't mind the homers when I'm pitching."

Even though Ankiel finished with two homers, all Looper needed was the first one. The right-hander gave the Redbirds their fifth straight quality start.

Looper lasted six innings, giving up one run on four hits and striking out three. Cards starters have now allowed earned runs in just two of their last 36 innings pitched and have an ERA of 1.00 over the past five games.

"If they keep that going, we can have fun from here until the end," La Russa said. "That's probably the most important thing that needs to happen."

Looper came out blazing and didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, which was an infield single by Nomar Garciaparra. Andre Ethier followed with a double to put two runners on with no outs.

Juan Pierre followed with a short fly ball to left field. Chris Duncan came charging in and dove to make the catch and preserve the Cards' five-run lead.

"When I threw the pitch and saw him swing, I knew it went off the end [of the bat]. As a pitcher, that's one where you're saying, 'You have to be kidding me, that's how they're going to score?'" Looper said. "Luckily, he played it perfectly. That was a big part of the game."

Looper got the final two outs of the inning with no problem when he struck out Ramon Martinez looking and got Lowe to ground out.

In the sixth, the Dodgers finally got to Looper, as Luis Gonzalez doubled to bring home James Loney. Looper was able to get the final out of the inning before being pulled from the game.

With a game-time temperature of 95 degrees and the famous St. Louis humidity kicking in, the Cards' staff figured Looper had enough.

"It was hotter than fire out there," Looper said. "I was coming inside as much as I could, sitting in front of fans. I probably drank more today than I have my whole life."

Looper continued his dominant pitching during the day. The right-hander is 6-0 in day games with a league-leading ERA of 1.84 in 44 innings.

The Cardinals' three other runs came in the third. Albert Pujols came to the plate with the bases loaded and reached on an error by shortstop Rafael Furcal, scoring Adam Kennedy. Jim Edmonds followed with a two-run single, scoring Aaron Miles and Ankiel, who had singled.

While the temperatures outside might have been "hotter than fire," the same could be said for Ankiel. He is now 5-for-12 with three homers and six RBIs in his first three games, and he's enjoying every minute of it.

"Today was unbelievable," Ankiel said. "I'm just trying to enjoy it. It's just nice to have the hard work rewarded by being called up."