The Cardinals lost the game on Friday but not before Pujols tied the MLB record with 13 home run. Pujols was not satisfied as the Cardinals lost. The Cardinals just didn't rally for the win. The final score was 8-3 as the Nationals won the game. Jason Marquis went five innings, giving up seven. Josh Hancock, Randy Flores, and Brad Thompson combined for four innings of relief, giving up a total of one run.
The home run aside, there was not much scoring action in the game for the Cardinals. In the bottom of the second, Skip Schumaker doubled to left center and brought home John Rodriguez. Pujols hit a single in the fifth inning, bringing home David Eckstein.
Carp (3-1, 1.91) took the mound today for the Cardinals against Livan Hernandez (1-3, 6.68). It was very much a pitcher's duel as both went seven innings and gave up one run each. Carp lowered his ERA to 1.80 while Hernandez lowered his to 5.49. Braden Looper pitching an inning of relief and picked up the win. Jason "Izzy" Isringhausen loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but managed to convert the save opportunity for his seventh save of the season.
Saturday saw Albert Pujols set a new MLB/NL/team record for long balls in the month of April with his 14th home run. He also matches the club record for RBIs with 32, set by Mark McGwire in 1998.
The Cardinals won on Saturday for the 16th win of the month, and that is a new club record. The Cardinals are currently one game behind Cincinnati in the division and I expect that to change on Monday when the Cards play a two-game series with the Reds.
Attendance facts
In 14 home games, all of them were sold out as 565,549 people entered the stadium.
Additional tickets go on sale on May 3rd as 65,000 seats will be opened up in time for the May 29th homestand.
Milestone watch:
Mark Mulder needs 1 win for career #100.
Albert Pujols needs 5 home runs to tie Mark McGwire at 220.
Jim Edmonds needs 6 home runs to tie Big Mac.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Game Preview
The Cardinals (15-7) take on the Washington Nationals (7-15) for the second game in the series. Jason Marquis (3-1, 3.55) will take the mound for the Cardinals against Tony Armas, Jr., for the Nationals.
In four starts against the Cardinals, Armas is 0-2 and has a 5.75 ERA. Marquis is 3-2 with a 2.97 ERA in sixteen starts against the Nationals. The Cardinals are 3-1 when Marquis starts.
In transaction news, Ricardo Rincon was placed on the DL. John Gall was called up from Memphis to take the spot on the roster. Gall was batting .383 with Memphis
In four starts against the Cardinals, Armas is 0-2 and has a 5.75 ERA. Marquis is 3-2 with a 2.97 ERA in sixteen starts against the Nationals. The Cardinals are 3-1 when Marquis starts.
In transaction news, Ricardo Rincon was placed on the DL. John Gall was called up from Memphis to take the spot on the roster. Gall was batting .383 with Memphis
Game Recap
Jim Edmonds powered the Cardinals to a 6-2 victory as he moved a home run closer to #220 with the Cardinals. He now has four on the season. Sidney Ponson picked up his third win of the season and is now 3-0.
In the seventh inning, Scott Spiezio doubled to deep center, bringing home Juan Encarnacion and Albert Pujols. Spiezio is still filling in for Scott Rolen as Rolen battles with bronchitis. In the 8th inning with bases loaded, Aaron Miles pinch hits for Hector Luna and hits a sac fly to center. So Taguchi scored on the sacrifice fly.
Ponson strikes out four, gives up 5 hits, two runs, and two walks. Brad Thompson picks up his second hold of the season.
In the seventh inning, Scott Spiezio doubled to deep center, bringing home Juan Encarnacion and Albert Pujols. Spiezio is still filling in for Scott Rolen as Rolen battles with bronchitis. In the 8th inning with bases loaded, Aaron Miles pinch hits for Hector Luna and hits a sac fly to center. So Taguchi scored on the sacrifice fly.
Ponson strikes out four, gives up 5 hits, two runs, and two walks. Brad Thompson picks up his second hold of the season.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Game Preview
Sidney Ponson (2-0, 3.31) takes the start for the St. Louis Cardinals (14-7) while Mike O'Conner makes his season debut for the Washington Nationals (7-14).
All-time, the Cardinals are 268-262 in the series. Last season, the Cardinals took four of six from them. This season is the first since 1969 that the Cardinals did not have to take a trip across the border, the longest streak in baseball.
Jason Marquis is presented his Silver Slugger before the game. Bill DeWitt, Jr., will honor Albert Pujols with a specially designed watch.
All-time, the Cardinals are 268-262 in the series. Last season, the Cardinals took four of six from them. This season is the first since 1969 that the Cardinals did not have to take a trip across the border, the longest streak in baseball.
Jason Marquis is presented his Silver Slugger before the game. Bill DeWitt, Jr., will honor Albert Pujols with a specially designed watch.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Game Blog
The first national game on TV for the new Busch Stadium. Commentators are Steve Stone, Gary Thorne, and Steve Phillips. Erin Andrews is the sideline reporter.
Starters
Cardinals
Eckstein SS
Luna LF
Pujols 1B
Encarnacion RF
Spiezio 3B
Taguchi CF
Molina C
Miles 2B
Mulder P
Pirates
Duffy CF
J. Wilson SS
Bay LF
C. Wilson RF
Randa 3B
Hernandez 1B
Castillo 2B
Paulino C
Duke P
First Inning: Duffy. 1-2. That gets passed Miles for a base hit. Wilson. Sacrice bunt to advance the runner. Bay. 3-2. Walk. Wilson. 1-1. 6-4-3 Double play!
Eckstein. 3-0. Walk. Luna. 2-1. Sacrifice grounder to the catcher. Pujols. Will they pitch to him? Intentional walk, the fourth of the season for the Great Pujols. Juan. 2-2. Fouled out to catcher for a strikeout. Spiezio. 1-0. Base hit to score Eckstein but Pujols stuck in a rundown for the final out. Cards lead 1-0.
Second inning: Mail call and I miss the first two outs. Encarnacion takes care of Castillo and they go down 1-2-3 in order.
So. 0-1. Base hit to right field. Yadier. 2-2. Strikeout and So steals second. Miles. Base hit to center and So scores. Cards 2, Pirates 0. Mulder. Sac bunt to advance the runner. Eckstein. 1-1. Grounded to first and Eck does not beat the throw.
Third inning: Paulino. 2-1. Fly out to center. Duke. 1-2. Grounded to Pujols. Duffy. 2-1. Grounded to the pitcher.
Luna. 2-1. Grounded to third and he beats the throw for a base hit! Pujols. 1-1. Grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Juan. 3-2. Grounded out to third.
Fourth inning: Wilson. 0-1. Flies out to right center. Bay. 3-2. Walk. Wilson. 0-1. Tie game with a home run. Randa. Base hit to left. Hernandez. 0-1. 6-4-3 Double play but the damage has been done.
Spiezio. 3-2. Base hit to right. Taguchi. 2-0. Base hit, runner advances to second. Molina. 0-1. Double play at third and first. Miles. 2-2. Walk. Mulder. 2-0. Grounded out to second.
Fifth inning: Castillo. 0-2. Strikeout. Paulino. 3-2. Base hit. Duke. Grounded to first. Duffy. 3-2. Walk. Wilson. Force out at second.
Eck. 3-2. Smashed to right for a double. Luna. 2-1. Grounded to short, Eck advances to third. Pujols at the bat. Intentional walk. Juan Encarnacion. Sacrifice fly to center. Eck tags and scores, Pujols stays at first. Cards 3, Pirates 2. Spiezio flies out to center.
Sixth inning: Bay. Straight to Luna. Wilson. 3-2. Walk. Randa. 3-1. 6-4-3 Double play.
So. Video is messed with all thanks to Steve Stone. 3-2. Walk. If I wanted radio play by play, I'd listen to Mike Shannon and John Rooney call it. Molina. Base hit to left, So stops at second. Miles, and the picture is back. Activity in both bullpen. 2-2. Flyout to right, no runners advance. Mulder. Sac bunt to the pitcher, both runners advance. Eck. 3-2. Grounds to short.
Seventh inning: Hernandez. 1-1. Grounds to Eckstein. Castillo. Base hit. Paulino. 1-0. 4-6-3 Double play.
Salomon Torres relieves Duke. Luna. 1-2. He goes down swinging. Pujols. 1-2. Base hit. Juan. 1-0. Infield fly. Spiezio. 3-2 (Pujols advances on a passed ball). Strikes out looking.
Eighth inning: Freddy Sanchez pinch hits for Torres. 1-0. Foul ball. Duffy. 0-1. Pujols tags the bag. Wilson. 3-1. Walk. Mulder exits the game as we have a pitching change. His ERA on the season is now 3.53. Braden Looper is now in for St. Louis. My guess is that they will bring in Jason Isringhausen for the save. Bay. 3-2. There's a fly to left but Hector Luna catches it.
The new Pirates pitcher is Matt Capps. My guess is that someone will pinch hit when we get to the nine spot. Taguchi. 0-2. Strikeout. There's an argument in the booth about Jason Bay and all the trades he's been involved with. Molina. 1-2. Flies out to center. Miles. 1-0. Flies out to left and now I'll never know how the Jason Bay saga ended.
Ninth inning: Izzy, a former Met traded by then-GM Steve Phillips, comes in for the save. Wilson. 2-2. Strikeout. Randa. 3-2. Grounded out to "Just Enough" Eckstein and we are two away. Hernandez. 1-1. Izzy blows the save with a home run that Luna couldn't reach at the left field wall. Mulder will not get his 100th career victory today. He'll try again in five days. Castillo. 2-2. Juan takes care of the ball in right but the damage has been done.
Roberto Hernandez takes the mound for the Pirates as we start the bottom of the ninth. Wilson goes to first and Nate McLouth goes to right. John Rodriguez will pinch hit for Izzy. 1-2. Caught looking. Eck. 1-2. Base hit. Luna. 2-2. Base hit to center, runner advances. Pujols at the bat. 2-2 (ball gets away on 1-2 pinch, runners stay). Ripped down the line and it's fair. Eckstein scores and the Cardinals rally to win 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth and that's a winner!
Isringhausen picks up a win and Roberto Hernandez gets the loss. Pujols picks up his 6th game-winning RBI on the season.
Apparently, Steve Phillips did not cut it as a general manager. The players play better than they did for Steve Phillips and they all go up to him at games he calls. Now that they never finished the Jason Bay saga, I've been forced to look it up online.
Starters
Cardinals
Eckstein SS
Luna LF
Pujols 1B
Encarnacion RF
Spiezio 3B
Taguchi CF
Molina C
Miles 2B
Mulder P
Pirates
Duffy CF
J. Wilson SS
Bay LF
C. Wilson RF
Randa 3B
Hernandez 1B
Castillo 2B
Paulino C
Duke P
First Inning: Duffy. 1-2. That gets passed Miles for a base hit. Wilson. Sacrice bunt to advance the runner. Bay. 3-2. Walk. Wilson. 1-1. 6-4-3 Double play!
Eckstein. 3-0. Walk. Luna. 2-1. Sacrifice grounder to the catcher. Pujols. Will they pitch to him? Intentional walk, the fourth of the season for the Great Pujols. Juan. 2-2. Fouled out to catcher for a strikeout. Spiezio. 1-0. Base hit to score Eckstein but Pujols stuck in a rundown for the final out. Cards lead 1-0.
Second inning: Mail call and I miss the first two outs. Encarnacion takes care of Castillo and they go down 1-2-3 in order.
So. 0-1. Base hit to right field. Yadier. 2-2. Strikeout and So steals second. Miles. Base hit to center and So scores. Cards 2, Pirates 0. Mulder. Sac bunt to advance the runner. Eckstein. 1-1. Grounded to first and Eck does not beat the throw.
Third inning: Paulino. 2-1. Fly out to center. Duke. 1-2. Grounded to Pujols. Duffy. 2-1. Grounded to the pitcher.
Luna. 2-1. Grounded to third and he beats the throw for a base hit! Pujols. 1-1. Grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Juan. 3-2. Grounded out to third.
Fourth inning: Wilson. 0-1. Flies out to right center. Bay. 3-2. Walk. Wilson. 0-1. Tie game with a home run. Randa. Base hit to left. Hernandez. 0-1. 6-4-3 Double play but the damage has been done.
Spiezio. 3-2. Base hit to right. Taguchi. 2-0. Base hit, runner advances to second. Molina. 0-1. Double play at third and first. Miles. 2-2. Walk. Mulder. 2-0. Grounded out to second.
Fifth inning: Castillo. 0-2. Strikeout. Paulino. 3-2. Base hit. Duke. Grounded to first. Duffy. 3-2. Walk. Wilson. Force out at second.
Eck. 3-2. Smashed to right for a double. Luna. 2-1. Grounded to short, Eck advances to third. Pujols at the bat. Intentional walk. Juan Encarnacion. Sacrifice fly to center. Eck tags and scores, Pujols stays at first. Cards 3, Pirates 2. Spiezio flies out to center.
Sixth inning: Bay. Straight to Luna. Wilson. 3-2. Walk. Randa. 3-1. 6-4-3 Double play.
So. Video is messed with all thanks to Steve Stone. 3-2. Walk. If I wanted radio play by play, I'd listen to Mike Shannon and John Rooney call it. Molina. Base hit to left, So stops at second. Miles, and the picture is back. Activity in both bullpen. 2-2. Flyout to right, no runners advance. Mulder. Sac bunt to the pitcher, both runners advance. Eck. 3-2. Grounds to short.
Seventh inning: Hernandez. 1-1. Grounds to Eckstein. Castillo. Base hit. Paulino. 1-0. 4-6-3 Double play.
Salomon Torres relieves Duke. Luna. 1-2. He goes down swinging. Pujols. 1-2. Base hit. Juan. 1-0. Infield fly. Spiezio. 3-2 (Pujols advances on a passed ball). Strikes out looking.
Eighth inning: Freddy Sanchez pinch hits for Torres. 1-0. Foul ball. Duffy. 0-1. Pujols tags the bag. Wilson. 3-1. Walk. Mulder exits the game as we have a pitching change. His ERA on the season is now 3.53. Braden Looper is now in for St. Louis. My guess is that they will bring in Jason Isringhausen for the save. Bay. 3-2. There's a fly to left but Hector Luna catches it.
The new Pirates pitcher is Matt Capps. My guess is that someone will pinch hit when we get to the nine spot. Taguchi. 0-2. Strikeout. There's an argument in the booth about Jason Bay and all the trades he's been involved with. Molina. 1-2. Flies out to center. Miles. 1-0. Flies out to left and now I'll never know how the Jason Bay saga ended.
Ninth inning: Izzy, a former Met traded by then-GM Steve Phillips, comes in for the save. Wilson. 2-2. Strikeout. Randa. 3-2. Grounded out to "Just Enough" Eckstein and we are two away. Hernandez. 1-1. Izzy blows the save with a home run that Luna couldn't reach at the left field wall. Mulder will not get his 100th career victory today. He'll try again in five days. Castillo. 2-2. Juan takes care of the ball in right but the damage has been done.
Roberto Hernandez takes the mound for the Pirates as we start the bottom of the ninth. Wilson goes to first and Nate McLouth goes to right. John Rodriguez will pinch hit for Izzy. 1-2. Caught looking. Eck. 1-2. Base hit. Luna. 2-2. Base hit to center, runner advances. Pujols at the bat. 2-2 (ball gets away on 1-2 pinch, runners stay). Ripped down the line and it's fair. Eckstein scores and the Cardinals rally to win 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth and that's a winner!
Isringhausen picks up a win and Roberto Hernandez gets the loss. Pujols picks up his 6th game-winning RBI on the season.
Apparently, Steve Phillips did not cut it as a general manager. The players play better than they did for Steve Phillips and they all go up to him at games he calls. Now that they never finished the Jason Bay saga, I've been forced to look it up online.
June 5, 2000: Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 22nd round of the 2000 amateur draft.
March 24, 2002: Traded by the Montreal Expos with Jimmy Serrano to the New York Mets for Lou Collier.
July 31, 2002: Traded by the New York Mets with Josh Reynolds (minors) and Bobby Jones to the San Diego Padres for Steve Reed and Jason Middlebrook.
August 26, 2003: Traded by the San Diego Padres with a player to be named later and Oliver Perez to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Brian Giles. The San Diego Padres sent Corey Stewart (minors) (October 2, 2003) to the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete the trade.
Pregame Post
The Cardinals play during the day on ESPN against the Pittsburgh Pirates as they complete the series. The Cards are a win away from the second sweep of the season (first was against the Phillies).
Yesterday, Juan Encarnacion was a hit away from going for the cycle. Will he be as good as he was yesterday for the rest of the season or was it just a fluke?
Mark Mulder takes the start as he looks for his 100th career win. Against the Pirates, he is 5-0 with an impressive 2.23 ERA. For the season, he's 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA. Mulder starts against Zach Duke (1-2, 4.50). Mulder has had the most wins for a pitcher (90) since the decade/millenium/century started in January 2001. When Mulder pitches this season, the Cardinals are 4-0.
Since last week's depressing 12-4 loss, the bullpen has not allowed a run in 16 innings.
In the farm, John Gall is tearing up the Pacific Coast League with .397 in 19 game.
Yesterday, Juan Encarnacion was a hit away from going for the cycle. Will he be as good as he was yesterday for the rest of the season or was it just a fluke?
Mark Mulder takes the start as he looks for his 100th career win. Against the Pirates, he is 5-0 with an impressive 2.23 ERA. For the season, he's 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA. Mulder starts against Zach Duke (1-2, 4.50). Mulder has had the most wins for a pitcher (90) since the decade/millenium/century started in January 2001. When Mulder pitches this season, the Cardinals are 4-0.
Since last week's depressing 12-4 loss, the bullpen has not allowed a run in 16 innings.
In the farm, John Gall is tearing up the Pacific Coast League with .397 in 19 game.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
In-game Update
Juan Encarnacion is a single --yes, a single -- away from hitting for the cycle today.
Juan Encarnacion through five innings:
First at bat: Ground rule double, 1 RBI (Pujols)
Second at bat: Home run, 2 RBIs (Him and Edmonds)
Third at bat: Triple, 1 RBI (Pujols)
Through five innings, the Cardinals lead 5-3 with Juan driving in four of those runs!
Our best wishes to Jasper, Ind. native Scott Rolen who was kept away from the park with a case of bronchitis.
Juan Encarnacion through five innings:
First at bat: Ground rule double, 1 RBI (Pujols)
Second at bat: Home run, 2 RBIs (Him and Edmonds)
Third at bat: Triple, 1 RBI (Pujols)
Through five innings, the Cardinals lead 5-3 with Juan driving in four of those runs!
Our best wishes to Jasper, Ind. native Scott Rolen who was kept away from the park with a case of bronchitis.
Pregame Post
Just how valuable is Wainwright's arm?
Bernie seems to think that the clubhouse has as many holes as the batting order.
Pujols leads the majors with 12 home runs and 28 RBI's after 19 games. His 12th home run tied Ken Keltner with taking 19 games to hit 12 out of the park in 1948. It took Mike Schmidt only 15 games in 1976.
Milestone watch:
Mark Mulder needs 1 win for 100 career wins.
Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols need 7 home runs for 220 Cardinal homers (4th)
Bernie seems to think that the clubhouse has as many holes as the batting order.
Which brings us to the second issue: the lineup.The Cardinals no longer have Reggie Sanders or Mark Grudzielanek. Larry Walker retired. Sanders is doing fair with the Royals but his numbers are not quite that impressive but he's better than Juan--who is improving. How does Bernie feel about the outfield?
As manager Tony La Russa repeatedly reminds us, it's only April. Still, the numbers being posted by Cardinals outfielders are alarmingly weak. And that must change.
Overall, Cardinals outfielders are batting .210 with four homers and 18 RBIs.
Edmonds has 12 RBIs, but he's batting only .185 with 19 strikeouts in 54 at-bats.
The corner outfield spots are feeble, with one homer and five RBIs in 144 at-bats. How bad is it? Well, in 36 at-bats, Cardinals pitchers have one homer and four RBIs.
In right field, Encarnacion is off to a terrible start. He has one RBI in 65 at-bats and is at the Mendoza Line with a .200 batting average. . There's nothing else to say. The Cardinals are still waiting on him to deliver.Be worried. Jeff Suppan is starting today. He has struggled all season long. Suppan goes into the game with an 0-2 record and a 9.00 ERA. When Suppan pitches this season, the Cardinals are 0-3.
In left field, So Taguchi is batting .209 with a woeful .279 on-base percentage. Larry Bigbie came over in a trade with Colorado, but he was a nonstarter after injuring a foot in spring training. In a rehab assignment at Memphis, Bigbie is three for 16 with seven strikeouts. Young Chris Duncan made a lot of noise with his power ball in camp, but he's struck out 22 times in 62 at-bats at Memphis. John Gall is batting .387 in Memphis with an OBP of .410 and 14 RBIs, but can't get a call-up to St. Louis. Meanwhile, Skip Schumaker (.171) remains with the big club.
Pujols leads the majors with 12 home runs and 28 RBI's after 19 games. His 12th home run tied Ken Keltner with taking 19 games to hit 12 out of the park in 1948. It took Mike Schmidt only 15 games in 1976.
Milestone watch:
Mark Mulder needs 1 win for 100 career wins.
Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols need 7 home runs for 220 Cardinal homers (4th)
Monday, April 24, 2006
That's a winner!
The Cards took care of Pittsburgh today beating them 7-2. As I said in an earlier posting during the game, Pujols took care of the lead in the bottom of the first when he smashed a 0-1 pitch to deep left field with his NL-leading 12th home run of the season. Pujols can tie the NL record for April with his next home run.
In the second inning, second baseman Hector Luna singles to center, scoring right fielder Juan Encarnacion and advancing catcher Yadier Molina to second. So Taguchi singles to right field and brings home Molina. Luna advances to third. Finally, David Eckstein sacrifices to the pitcher and brings home Luna. So goes to second.
In the fifth, Albert "the Great" Pujols doubles and Jim Edmonds scores. Luna singles scoring Pujols and advancing Juan Encarnacion. So singles to right, scoring Juan, and advances Luna to third.
Chris Carpenter went 6 innings, striking out only 3, and gave up eight hits and two earned runs. His season ERA is now 1.91. Rookie pitcher Adam Wainwright, coming out of the pen, pitched a solid inning, striking out two and lowering his ERA to 0.91 on the season. Josh Hancock pitched the final two innings, fanning two and giving up two hits.
What does this mean to you? Juan Encarnacion is not as bad as originally thought. He just had a bad start to the season.
In the second inning, second baseman Hector Luna singles to center, scoring right fielder Juan Encarnacion and advancing catcher Yadier Molina to second. So Taguchi singles to right field and brings home Molina. Luna advances to third. Finally, David Eckstein sacrifices to the pitcher and brings home Luna. So goes to second.
In the fifth, Albert "the Great" Pujols doubles and Jim Edmonds scores. Luna singles scoring Pujols and advancing Juan Encarnacion. So singles to right, scoring Juan, and advances Luna to third.
Chris Carpenter went 6 innings, striking out only 3, and gave up eight hits and two earned runs. His season ERA is now 1.91. Rookie pitcher Adam Wainwright, coming out of the pen, pitched a solid inning, striking out two and lowering his ERA to 0.91 on the season. Josh Hancock pitched the final two innings, fanning two and giving up two hits.
What does this mean to you? Juan Encarnacion is not as bad as originally thought. He just had a bad start to the season.
Pujols goes yard again...
Albert Pujols hit his 12th home run of the season and tied Jim Edmonds for all-time Cardinal home runs with 213 home runs. They are racing to tie Mark McGwire for 4th all time as a Cardinal.
For what it's worth, Juan Encarnacion is hitting a little better after struggling the first part of the season. He's had seven hits since April 13th.
Full recap after the game.
For what it's worth, Juan Encarnacion is hitting a little better after struggling the first part of the season. He's had seven hits since April 13th.
Full recap after the game.
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