Game Thread #96 - STL@PIT - 7/13/08

[Coop]

Probables: Joel Pineiro vs Ian Snell @ 12:30PM.

Collapse
STLtoday - Cards

Loss
St. Louis Cardinals News | StLCardinals.com: News

MSN schedule
FOX Sports on MSN - MLB - Schedules

Yahoo schedule
MLB - Scores & Schedule Sunday July 13, 2008 - Yahoo! Sports

Standings.
Regular Season Standings | MLB.com: Standings
Won 52 Lost 43

mattcrossman
SportingNews.com - Your expert source for MLB Baseball stats, scores, standings, blogs and fantasy news from MLB Baseball columnists
Cardinals don't have the talent to sustain hot start
There are few on it you would want for your team other than Albert Pujols.
Heck, there might be no one on it you could name other than Albert Pujols.

Additions and corrections are appreciated.

[Coop]

MSN lineup and boxscore
FOX Sports on MSN - MLB - Game Trax

1. S Schumaker, CF
2. R Ludwick, LF
3. A Pujols, 1B
4. T Glaus, 3B
5. C Duncan, RF
6. Y Molina, C
7. A Miles, 2B
8. J Pineiro, P
9. C Izturis, SS

Rick Ankiel not starting. Hopelly his ankle is OK.

[Coop]

Rooney said Tony is just being cautious with Ankiel's ankle.
Rick is ready if needed.

Yahoo play by play
MLB - St. Louis Cardinals/Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score Sunday July 13, 2008 - Yahoo! Sports

[Coop]

Shannon said Dave Ricketts has died. I liked him.
Hard worker and I remembered clutch hits.

Top 1st: St. Louis
- S. Schumaker singled to left
- R. Ludwick popped out to right
- A. Pujols flied out to deep right
- T. Glaus popped out to shallow center

0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 0, Pittsburgh 0

Bottom 1st: Pittsburgh
- N. McLouth flied out to deep left
- C. Gomez singled to center
- R. Doumit hit by pitch, C. Gomez to second
- J. Bay struck out swinging
- X. Nady singled to center, C. Gomez scored, R. Doumit to second
- D. Mientkiewicz walked, R. Doumit to third, X. Nady to second
- J. Bautista grounded into fielder's choice, X. Nady out at third, D. Mientkiewicz to second

1 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 0, Pittsburgh 1

Looks like we are in trouble.
They didn't spot us 10 runs before they started playing today.

I am not feeling desparate for a position player to be obtained.
I don't want any, unless they slaughter LH pitchers.
I don't want to give up the farm just to make a move.

I love pitching. We need it, especially a LF reliever, or 2.
The All Star break may get our starting pitching through.

[Coop]

Our sluggers are not making Cy Snell work, so far.

Top 2nd: St. Louis
- C. Duncan struck out swinging
- Y. Molina struck out swinging
- A. Miles grounded out to first

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 0, Pittsburgh 1

Bottom 2nd: Pittsburgh
- I. Snell grounded out to shortstop
- J. Wilson singled to center
- N. McLouth grounded into double play second to shortstop to first, J. Wilson out at second

0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 0, Pittsburgh 1

Top 3rd: St. Louis
- J. Pineiro struck out swinging
- C. Izturis struck out looking
- S. Schumaker grounded out to first

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 0, Pittsburgh 1

Bottom 3rd: Pittsburgh
- C. Gomez grounded out to third
- R. Doumit struck out swinging
- J. Bay grounded out to shortstop

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 0, Pittsburgh 1

[tulcard]

Consecutive doubles by Glaus and Duncan tie the game at 1-1 here in the 4th....then Yadi walks and Miles follows with a 3 run shot to give the Cards a 4-1 lead....let's see if we can hold this one....

[Coop]

Top 4th: St. Louis
- R. Ludwick struck out swinging
- A. Pujols grounded out to shortstop
*- T. Glaus doubled to left
*- C. Duncan doubled to deep right, T. Glaus scored
*- Y. Molina walked
- C. Duncan to third on wild pitch

[*- A. Miles homered to deep right, C. Duncan and Y. Molina scored
Our slugger stepped up! ]

*- J. Pineiro walked
- C. Izturis flied out to deep left

4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 4, Pittsburgh 1

Bottom 4th: Pittsburgh
- X. Nady grounded out to shortstop
- D. Mientkiewicz grounded out to first
- J. Bautista grounded out to shortstop

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 4, Pittsburgh 1

Hopefully Pineiro can get at least a good 8 innings.
Miles can pitch the 9th and maybe we won't get beat.

[tulcard]

So much for holding the lead....Pirates even things up 4-4 after 5....

[Coop]

Top 5th: St. Louis
- S. Schumaker singled to center
- R. Ludwick struck out looking
- A. Pujols popped out to catcher
- T. Glaus walked, S. Schumaker to second
- C. Duncan grounded out to second

0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 4, Pittsburgh 1

Bottom 5th: Pittsburgh
- F. Sanchez hit for I. Snell
- F. Sanchez singled to center
- J. Wilson singled to center, F. Sanchez to second
- N. McLouth flied out to center
- C. Gomez flied out to deep center, F. Sanchez to third
- R. Doumit doubled to deep right, F. Sanchez scored, J. Wilson to third
- J. Bay singled to left, R. Doumit and J. Wilson scored
- X. Nady singled to center, J. Bay to second
- D. Mientkiewicz grounded into fielder's choice, X. Nady out at second

3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 4, Pittsburgh 4

Here we go again. It doesn't seem a successful strategy, that even if we keep losing everybody else will lose more than we do.

[Coop]

Top 6th: St. Louis
- S. Burnett relieved I. Snell
*- Y. Molina singled to center
*- A. Miles safe at first on second baseman C. Gomez's fielding error, Y. Molina to third
- J. Pineiro struck out bunting foul
- C. Izturis grounded into fielder's choice, Y. Molina scored,
A. Miles out at second
- C. Izturis stole second
- S. Schumaker grounded out to second

1 runs, 1 hits, 1 errors
St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 4

Bottom 6th: Pittsburgh
- J. Bautista lined out to second
>- S. Burnett doubled to deep left
- J. Wilson grounded out to shortstop, S. Burnett to third
>- N. McLouth walked
- N. McLouth stole second
>- C. Gomez doubled to deep left center,
N. McLouth and S. Burnett scored
- R. Springer relieved J. Pineiro
- J. Bay popped out to shallow center

2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 6

Osoria comes in for them.

[Coop]

Top 7th: St. Louis
- F. Osoria relieved S. Burnett
*- R. Ludwick singled to center
*- A. Pujols hit by pitch, R. Ludwick to second
*- T. Glaus doubled to deep left, R. Ludwick scored , A. Pujols to third
*- C. Duncan singled to right, A. Pujols scored, T. Glaus to third
- Y. Molina grounded out to catcher, C. Duncan to second

[*- A. Miles tripled to deep center, C. Duncan and T. Glaus scored
Tony said Miles calls him Tone, because Aaron is a player/coach.]

- T.J. Beam relieved F. Osoria
- R. Ankiel hit for R. Springer
- R. Ankiel flied into double play right to catcher, A. Miles out at home

4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 9, Pittsburgh 6

Stretch time.

Bottom 7th: Pittsburgh
- K. McClellan relieved R. Springer
- X. Nady singled to right
- D. Mientkiewicz popped out to shortstop
- J. Bautista lined into double play, X. Nady out at first

0 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 9, Pittsburgh 6

[Coop]

Top 8th: St. Louis
- C. Izturis lined out to center
- S. Schumaker grounded out to first

[ *- R. Ludwick homered to deep center ]

- A. Pujols grounded out to third

1 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 10, Pittsburgh 6

We have the 10 runs. I guess they will have their batters start hitting.

Bottom 8th: Pittsburgh
- L. Rivas hit for T.J. Beam
- L. Rivas flied out to deep left
- J. Wilson lined out to right center
- N. McLouth grounded out to second

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors
St. Louis 10, Pittsburgh 6

Bring us in a winner, guys!

[Ewttexas]

Yesterday was by far the worst game of the year. Today was a different story. Cards win 11-6. It amazes me how this team bounces back. After an absolute humiliating experience, the offense and pitching both come through. Great way to go into the break.
Back with the recap in a few minutes.

[Kodiak]

Should have been a sweep, but I'm glad for the bounce back win. How about that Miles?

[Ewttexas]

The Cards had 15 hits. Glaus and Miles are on fire. Glaus had 2 doubles and his 15th HR. Miles was a double away from the cycle. Dunc had 3 hits with a double. Ludwick had 2 with his 21st HR. Schu had 2 singles. Yadi and kennedy each had a single.
Pineiro got hit hard but he lasted 5 2/3 innings. That was important. It gave us a chance to use the BP expeditiously. The Pirates weren't as lucky. Snell only lasted 5 and the Cards were able to take advantage of a tired and overexposed BP. Springer got the win by bailing us out of the 6th. He is 2-0 and his ERA stands at 2.17. McClellan. made up for yesterday. He got his 20th hold by going 2 innings giving up only 1 hit. His ERA is 2.94. Franklin took care of the heart of the order in the 9th giving up 1 hit with a K. His ERA is 3.43.
Time for a rest. The Cards are 10 over at the break. There were some games that should have been won. This series should have been a sweep but with all of the injuries the Cards have had to endure and the pipeline to Memphis on overload, the team has held its own. The Cubs lost today so the Cards are back to 4 1/2 out. Unfortunately, Milw won in their final AB so they stay 1/2 game behind us and tied in the loss column. I believe that we still lead the WC.
It's a must that Mo give these guys some help. TLR can only motivate them so far. We must have LH relief and probably another starter. We can't wait for Carp and Wainwright. Loop, Wellemeyer and Pineiro are a couple of starts away from breaking down. Jamie will start next Sunday. Hoping for a miracle is too farfetched. If the Cards are going to stay in the race, reinforcements are needed. GET IT DONE, MO!!!
This keyboard will get a rest also. I don't plan on watching the All-Star game. As far as I'm concerned, it means nothing and I won't buy into the ridiculous home field advantage nonsense. I hope that everyone enjoys the break and the game if you choose to help the ratings.
Until Thursday, see ya later.