Big Series
Well, this is certainly a big series starting tonight. Houston is gaining ground and probably has played better than anyone else in the NL Central as of late. I’ll keep a running diary as we go.
Top First:
Cards go in order. I have to confess that the thought “It might be a long night” went through my head. You see thats the real affect of the losing streak and the way the Cards have played over the past few weeks. It always there in the back of your head just waiting to say “I TOLD YOU SO”.
Bottom First:
The second pitch to Mike Lamb is DRILLED. Cards fall behind 1-0. Cue the first mention of Jeff Weaver waiting to take Ponson’s spot in the rotation. I give it another two innings before we hear about Sidney’s offseason trouble with the law.
Top 2:
Scotty smacks a 3-1 pitch off the centerfield wall and strolls into second. He stopped a bit oddly, I don’t even wanna think about it.
The Cardinals have just run themselves out of another inning. Jimmy lined out to right and Scotty is gunned down at third. How many times do we need to see that happen before Tony tightens the leash on Oquendo? I know its only the second but I dont like the way this game is going. One wasted opportunity here, one bad pitch there, and we’re 7 innings from me throwing the remote through the TV.
Bottom 2:
Ponson starts things off nicely with a walk. A lazy fly ball to center and a FC have given me hopes of getting out of this inning without a run.
And we’re ahead of schedule! With two outs in the 2nds we are treated to a discussion of Ponson’s legal troubles. I never knew he’d been arrested! Man these guys really do their homework to dig up this stuff…
End of the inning – Cards only down 1-0.
Top of the 3rd:
Scary moment to start off the inning. Molina is plunked in the back of the head. “Clearly this was not a purpose pitch…”. Keep in mind I’m listening to Houston announcers. Don’t think for a minute that TLR cares whether it was on purpose or not. Molina comes off after standing on first for a couple of pitches and the fate of some Astro is sealed. If we don’t drill someone in this game I’m going to request an investigation into the abduction of Tony.
As we wait for Ponson to do something… anything… let me just say I like the Weaver deal. However, I hope its part of a bigger picture Walt is working on. I’d still love to see one or two of our starters dealt and maybe even Izzy (although I have to admit he pitched well his last time out). We need a big productive bat and a top of the line no. 2 pitcher.
Ponson bunts foul for the strikeout but a wild pitch does the job he couldn’t and moves the runner over. Eck flies out to end the Cardinals’ frame.
Bottom of the 3rd:
Double play up the middle gives Ponson a 1-2-3 inning. He’s looking good early but the test for Ponson is always beyond the 5th.
Top 4:
Holy Cow! With Pujols on Jimmy E absolutely killed a ball. No one on the field even flinched on that no doubter. Cards take the lead 2-1! As Tony mentioned in the paper today, the lineup is so much better when Jimmy is producing.
Bottom 4:
Of course the lead couldn’t last long. Ponson walks the leadoff guy, beans the second (I guess we’re even now), and on what should have been a double play ball Miles lets it roll through his legs. One run scores and Ponson walks the bases loaded just on principle. A double play ball gives the ‘Stros the lead but I think at that point we’d trade a run for two outs.
Ponson has walked three thus far but should probably still be ahead 2-1.
Cards behind 3-2.
5th Inning:
I think I slept through it… no no I guess not, both pitchers just seem to be settling in.
6th:
Call it the 5th inning redux. Each pitcher walked the opposing slugger (Pujols and Berkman) and no one was able to make them pay. I would love for Pujols to come up with a chance to win it against Lidge. How sweet would that be?
Top 7:
Edmunds drills what should have been a single… however was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. That scene looks disturbingly familiar… oh yeah, we’ve done that roughly 105 times in the last month.
Bottom 7:
Well that was an odd inning. With runners on first and second and two outs a balk was called. It was reveresed when the third base umpire let everyone else know he had called time. The runners were sent back and Kinney (in on relief) got the inning ending double play to keep the Cardinals in this game.
Top of the 8th:
I guess this is what I get for complaining about running out of the inning. JohnnyLo cracks a double that probably should have been a triple. After a sacrifice bunt, he’s on third and Duncan is battling with a full count and one out. We need this. This is bigger than just this game.
Duncan strikes out and Pujols is intentionally walked. Notice the balls aren’t even close to the plate. The ‘Stros don’t need Pujols pulling a Miggy Cabrera on them. However, that brings up Rolen who’s batting .380 something on the road. Lidge is in and the Cardinals have another chance to bust up the sketchy closer.
Rolen hits it hard but right at the secondbaseman. Inning over, Cards trail 3-2.
Bottom of the 8th:
Wainwright comes in and promptly commits an error. He throws the ball half-way back to St. Louis and puts a runner on 2nd with no outs. You can’t do that and get away with it and this is no exception as Wilson gets an RBI single. Luckily for the Cards, thats the only damage done.
Top 9:
Game.
The Cards drop another one and for whatever reason, this one hurts more than the blowouts. Between this one, and Reyes’ one hitter, I’m feeling ill. Walt, make a move… PLEASE!