INSIDE PITCH
The Cardinals finished their
season's play in Cincinnati on Sunday and it wasn't a productive
season. They lost five of the six games they played there, including a 3-1
setback in the finale of a three-game series.
Left-hander Jaime Garcia
lost for the first time in six decisions against the Reds in his two seasons as
a starter. He pitched to rookie catcher Tony Cruz for the first time rather than
veteran Yadier Molina but, though there seemed to be a few more mound
conferences than usual, the pair appeared to work well together as Garcia gave
up just two runs, one earned, in seven innings.
"He pitched a great
game," manager Tony La Russa said. "Offensively, we got shut
down."
The only offense of note
was right fielder Lance Berkman's National League-leading 25th homer in the
second inning. Berkman also leads in home runs hit by an opponent at Great American Ball
Park with
23.
The tying run scored on
two Garcia wild pitches in the sixth inning but the inning was kept alive on a
controversial call by umpire Mike Muchlinski, who ruled that shortstop Ryan Theriot had not kept his foot on the bag as he received a high throw from second
baseman Skip Schumaker. Instead of a man on first with two out, there were two
on and one out.
Theriot, ejected for the
first time for arguing, noted that he sympathized with the umpires in that their
job is a difficult one, but he said he thought he had dragged his foot over the
bag.
"I just felt really
strongly that I was on the base," he said. "You can't miss that call. That's a
big play in the game."
Boxscore
NOTES,
QUOTES
INF Nick Punto delivered
a pinch single in the eighth inning, but likely will go on the disabled list for
the third time in the next day or so. For the second time, it will be because of
a problem with his throwing arm. Punto will be examined in St. Louis on Monday's
off-day.
RHP Lance Lynn, who had
been impressive lately in late-game roles, was not quite as good on Sunday as he
surrendered Cincinnati SS Zack Cozart's first big-league homer in the eighth.
Lynn, a rookie who had been starting at Class AAA Memphis and who also had two
starts earlier this season for the Cardinals, had not been scored on in his
previous four outings and in six of his last seven.
LHP Jaime Garcia admitted
he became a bit excited after a big call at second went against the Cardinals in
the sixth and he threw two wild pitches, one allowing the tying run to score. "I
was trying to throw 110 percent instead of 100 percent," said Garcia. "I just
spiked it, tried to do too much with it. I got a little too excited with the
situation. You always learn from mistakes like that and make sure it doesn't
happen again."
CF Colby Rasmus is down
to .241 after another hitless game. Rasmus, 5-for-45 (.111) since June 29, was
yanked for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning.
C Tony Cruz already has
appeared at four other positions since being brought up in late May. The rookie
already had been at 1B, 3B and RF and then finished up Sunday's game at 2B after
starting behind the plate.
BY THE NUMBERS: 0-for-3 -
The Cardinals' production with men in scoring position on
Sunday.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I won't
say it was the turning point, but he ended up scoring."
- SS Ryan Theriot, on an umpiring
call at second base that went against the Cardinals, giving Cincinnati a runner at
second base. The call agitated Theriot so much that he was
ejected.
ROSTER
REPORT
MEDICAL
WATCH:
INF Nick Punto (sore
right elbow) left the July 16 game, and he will be placed on the disabled list.
Punto missed the season's first 16 games after having abdominal surgery in
February, then missed 36 games from mid-May to late June due to a right forearm
strain.
LHP Brian Tallet
(strained right intercostal muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive
to July 4. He was injured while sneezing.
RHP Eduardo Sanchez (mild
right shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 13.
He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Springfield on July 7 but had renewed
soreness soon after and was shut down until late August or early
September.
OF Allen Craig (broken
right kneecap) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 8. He might
return in late July.
RHP Adam Wainwright
(Tommy John surgery in February 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list March 25.
He will miss the entire 2011 season.
NEXT
GAME
Mon.,
July 18: Open Date
Tues.,
July 19 vs. METS: Kyle Lohse (8-6, 3.32) vs. Dillon Gee (8-3, 3.76) 6:10 p.m.
(FOX Sports
Midwest, KMOX Radio and Cardinals Radio
Network).
VIDEO FROM FOXSPORTSMIDWEST.COM
Tony TV: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa believes his team lost to the Reds because of their solid pitching.
Starter Jaime Garcia and infielder Ryan Theriot discuss what went wrong in Sunday's game against Cincy.