Cards vs. Diamondbacks

Whoever did the scheduling was messed up, In a period of one week, the Cards will have played in three different time zones. The Cardinals head west for a four game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks who were no-hit last night by Anibal Sanchez.

Except for the 4:40 ET start on Sunday, all games will be starting at 9:40 ET.

Thursday
Jeff Weaver (2-4, 5.34) takes the start for the Cardinals tonight against Miguel Batista (10-5, 4.34 ERA). Weaver, looking for his first win since August 7th, 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA against the Diamondbacks in seven starts. Batista has faced the Cards once this season.

Lineup
Aaron Miles SS
Chris Duncan LF
Albert Pujols 1B
Juan Encarnacion RF
Scott Spiezio 3B
Preston Wilson CF
Ronnie Belliard 2B
Yadier Molina C
Jeff Weaver P

Word has it that Scott Rolen has not put up good numbers against Batista so he didn't get the start. Instead, Scott Spiezio gets the start and he goes yard not once but twice for his 10th and 11th home runs. Yadier Molina is hitting the ball, going 2-3 with a run and a walk. Weaver left after five solid innings, giving up only 2 runs on five hits. Pinch hitting for Braden Looper, John Nelson made his major league debut. Skip Schumaker came in to the game in the 8th or ninth inning, wearing jersey #55. Tyler Johnson, Josh Kinney, and Braden Looper all got a hold today. Wainwright pitched a 1-2-3 ninth in a non-save situation.

St. Louis 6, Arizona 2
Winning pitcher - Jef Weaver (3-4)
HR: Scott Spiezio (10, 11)

Friday
Anthony Reyes (5-6, 4.31 ERA) goes against Livan Hernandez (10-12, 5.24). This is the first career start for Reyes against the Diamondbacks. Hernandez has started once against the Cards this season, going seven innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits and picked up a no-decision--before he was traded. Pujols won that game with a home run. Take a look at that box score though.

Lineup
Ronnie Belliard 2B
Scott Spiezio LF
Albert Pujols 1B
Juan Encarnacion RF
Scott Rolen 3B
Preston Wilson CF
Aaron Miles SS
Yadier Molina C
Anthony Reyes P

With the Cards getting blown out, Tony LaRussa sent in reinforcements in the late innings where it almost made one thing that it was spring training since it was that sort of lineup.

In the bottom of the 7th and 8th, the following lineup changes were made:
- John Rodriguez in left field
- Scott Spiezio at third
- Skip Schumaker in center field
- So Taguchi at second
- Mike Rose catching
- Chris Narveson pitching
- Jose Vizcaino at shortstop
- Chris Duncan in right field
- Gary Bennett at first

Here's one reason as to why Reyes was not as effective last night.

Arizona 13, St. Louis 1
Losing pitcher - Anthony Reyes (5-7)
HR: Juan Encarnacion (18)

Saturday
Jason Marquis (14-13, 5.73) takes the start against Kentucky native and Cy Young candidate Brandon Webb (14-6, 3.14). Marquis is 1-0 against the D-backs this season. In that game, he only gave up one run in seven innings pitched. Of course, the Cardinals offense showed up that game with both Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols both going yard. That game started a stretch of five wins in a row for Jason Marquis. Brandon Webb has not faced the Cardinals at all this season.

Lineup
Aaron Miles SS
Chris Duncan LF
Albert Pujols 1B
Scott Rolen 3B
Preston Wilson RF
Ronnie Belliard 2B
So Taguchi CF
Gary Bennett C
Jason Marquis P

Take out the double by Scott Rolen and the Cards would have been victims of a no-hitter. Brandon Webb dominated the game Saturday night. Marquis had yet another quality start where he could not get any run support.

Arizona 3, St. Louis 0
Losing pitcher - Jason Marquis (14-14)

Sunday
Jeff Suppan (11-7, 4.39) pitches against Enrique Gonzalez (3-7, 5.64). Suppan has been very impressive for the Cardinals as of late in his past three outings. Soup has not faced Arizona at all this season. Gonzalez is looking for his first win since July 17, 2006. For the Cards to lose this game, it would take a miracle. Gonzalez has given up 28 runs in his last 37.1 innings pitched.

Lineup
Skip Schumaker CF
Chris Duncan LF
Albert Pujols 1B
Scott Rolen 3B
Scott Spiezio 2B
Juan Encarnacion RF
Jose Vizcaino SS
Yadier Molina C
Jeff Suppan P

Arizona 9, St. Louis 7
Losing pitcher - Jorge Sosa (3-11)
HR: Chris Duncan (16), Albert Pujols (45), Scott Spiezio (12)

Milestone watch:
Albert Pujols needs 9 home runs to tie Ken Boyer for 2nd on the Cardinals all-time home runs list with 255.
Jim Edmonds needs 1 home run to pass Ray Lankford for 4th all-time as a Cardinal.
Jason Isringhausen needs 1 saves for 250 career saves.
Chris Carpenter needs 2 more wins for 100 career wins.
Albert Pujols has his sixth consecutive season with 100 runs, 100 RBI, 30 home runs, and at least a .300 batting average. He is the only player to do so in the first five seasons of a MLB career. With less than a month to go in the season, Pujols is batting .322.