INSIDE PITCH
The Cardinals have almost all of
their offensive weapons available now that Albert Pujols and David Freese are
back from the disabled list, but the offense has ceased to function the last two
games.
In scoring a total of
three runs, including a 4-2 loss to the Mets at New York on Tuesday night, the Cardinals have
had just one run-scoring hit with men in scoring position, and that was a single
past Mets right-hander Dillon Gee by Cardinals right-hander Kyle Lohse in the
fifth inning.
That gave the Cardinals a
1-0 lead, but two-run doubles by Angel Pagan off Lohse and Daniel Murphy off
Raul Valdes were too much to overcome.
Valdes and fellow
left-hander Trever Miller continued to have trouble out of the bullpen. Of the
three hitters they faced, two got hits.
Lance Berkman extended
his National League-leading home run total to 26 with a 430-foot-plus blast to
right-center in the seventh inning. Seven of Berkman's last 10 hits have been
homers, and all 10 of his RBI since June 30 have come on
homers.
Lohse, who has recorded
just one win in his last eight starts, gave up four runs on 10 hits and three
walks in 5 2/3 innings. He hadn't pitched since July 8.
"I wasn't sharp coming
off a long layoff," Lohse said. "For the most part, I felt I was dodging a lot
of stuff. I thought I made a lot of good pitches when I had to, but not enough
really."
NOTES,
QUOTES
1B Albert Pujols grounded
into his National League-leading 22nd double play, and it couldn't have come at
a worse time. Pujols' GIDP came with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth
inning when the Cardinals trailed 4-2. Pujols also grounded into a double play
to end the fourth. The Cardinals have held a huge lead in the league in that
category for most of the season, and manager Tony La Russa said, "We've got a
lot of them (102), no doubt about it."
RHP Kyle Lohse allowed
two doubles in two at-bats to New York RF Carlos Beltran, making Beltran
22-for-39 (.564) against Lohse. So, Lohse walked Beltran with a man at first and
two outs in the sixth inning. "As you get a little older, you get a little
smarter," Lohse said. "Maybe I'll make up a knuckleball or something to get him
out."
However, Lohse may not
have been aware that he was coming out of the game after his walk to Beltran.
With the Cardinals trailing 2-1, LHP Raul Valdes was brought in to face Mets 3B
Daniel Murphy, a left-handed hitter. Manager Tony La Russa explained, "The last
two times (Lohse) faced him, Murphy hit the ball hard. I didn't think the third
time would be a charm." But Murphy doubled off Valdes anyway, driving in two
runs.
The Mets outhit the
Cardinals 14-5. "The score (4-2) was a little misleading," La Russa
said.
SS Ryan Theriot played
Tuesday, pending an appeal for the two-game suspension he incurred for making
contact with umpire Mike Muchlinski as Theriot protested a decision at second
base Sunday in Cincinnati. Manager Tony La Russa said, "I
think he's got a real good reputation and record of not having any trouble with
umpires. It was accidental, and we're hoping that works in his
favor."
BY THE NUMBERS: 0-6 - RHP
Kyle Lohse's record in New
York against both the Yankees and the Mets. He is 0-2 at
old Yankee Stadium and 0-2 at both Shea Stadium and Citi Field, the two home
parks of the Mets.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think
you start scoreboard-watching come September. You're aware of where everybody
is, but it's not something you're agonizing over on a nightly
basis."
- RF Lance Berkman, on the
standings in July.
ROSTER
REPORT
MEDICAL
WATCH:
INF Nick Punto (sore
right elbow) left the July 16 game, and he might be placed on the disabled list.
He pinch-hit July 17 but didn't play July 18-19. 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
Wed.,
July 20 vs. METS: Kyle McClellan (6-6, 4.24) vs. R.A. Dickey (4-8, 3.70) 6:10
p.m. (FOX Sports
Midwest, ESPN, KMOX Radio and Cardinals Radio
Network).
VIDEO FROM FOXSPORTSMIDWEST.COM
Tony TV: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa explains why his team was unable to overcome NY Tuesday night.
Lance Berkman and Kyle Lohse reflect on the latter's outing against NY and more after Tuesday's defeat.