INSIDE PITCH
The
Cardinals slammed three homers Thursday, 421 feet by catcher Yadier Molina, 446
feet by left fielder Matt Holliday and 456 feet by third baseman David Freese.
But, while the Phillies lost the long-distance battle, they peppered Cardinals
pitching for 14 singles among their 18 hits and emerged with a 10-9 win.
Right-hander Jake Westbrook had a poor
start for the Cardinals, but the more concerning pitching news might have been
that right-hander Fernando Salas, a standout last season with 24 saves and some
valuable setup work, too, again had trouble, notably with left-handed
hitters.
After the Cardinals had rallied from
6-0 and 7-4 deficits to catch the Phillies at 7-7 on Molina's two-run homer to
center in the fifth, Salas allowed four hits, three of them to left-handed
hitters, in the sixth as the Phils scored two runs to take the last
lead.
Salas (0-3) has been touched for 12
hits in 28 at-bats by left-handed batters this season, and manager Mike Matheny
said he didn't think Salas had the feel of his changeup.
Matheny, asked about Salas' numbers
against left-handed hitters, said, "You can't always script it where he faces
the right-handed hitters, but there's something to that (statistic), no
question."
Westbrook, meanwhile, has gone winless
in his last three starts, permitting 25 hits in 15 innings. He gave up eight
hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings Thursday in a no-decision.
"Not good," Westbrook said. "Not good
at all. Very erratic.
"It kind of snowballed on me early. I
didn't do a very good job of giving my team a chance. I put us in a hole, which
is tough to come back from, which we did a great job of doing."
NOTES,
QUOTES
1B Lance Berkman's
operation for his ailing right knee was postponed from Thursday to Friday
morning in Houston because of a doctor's scheduling
conflict. The arthroscopic surgery, to repair a torn meniscus, is expected to
take 45 to 90 minutes. However, Friday's procedure could be only the first in a
two-step process should doctors determine Berkmam's ACL is
compromised.
C Yadier Molina had a
four-hit game, raising his average to .314. However, as early as the first
hitter, Molina and plate umpire Rob Drake had issues, which carried into the
time between innings after the Phillies had scored three runs in the first. All
the Cardinals except Molina came off the field. Manager Mike Matheny, who had to
intervene, said, "They hashed it out … and they still had some things they
wanted to discuss. Unfortunately, it did take away from the rhythm of the game,
and whenever that happens, it ultimately affects a pitcher. We weren't real
happy about how that whole thing played out. There was some extra going on
there, and they put it behind them."
CF Skip Schumaker,
getting more playing time with all the injuries to Cardinals regulars, had an
extra-base hit (a double) and an RBI for the third consecutive
game.
LHP Marc Rzepczynski did
not get onto the field as a counter to turn around some of the Philadelphia switch
hitters. Manager Mike Matheny, noting that Rzepczynski had pitched in three of
the previous four games, said, "We were trying to stay away from him at all
costs."
RHP Fernando Salas, who
generally has pitched poorly and who also hadn't been in a game since last
Friday before he was tagged for two runs Thursday, might be vulnerable if the
Cardinals want to make a bullpen move, as is expected. Salas' ERA is 6.32, and
he's given up 23 hits and nine walks in 15 innings.
By the
Numbers:
9-1 - The Cardinals'
record when 3B David Freese homers. They lost their first such game Thursday
night.
Quote to
Note:
"They did a great job of
fighting and staying with it. … We just hate to have to fight that
much."
- Manager Mike Matheny,
on his team erasing a 6-0 deficit before losing 10-9 to Philadelphia.
MEDICAL
WATCH
INF Matt Carpenter
(strained right oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list May
23.
1B Lance Berkman (torn
meniscus in right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list May 20. He switched his
surgery May 23 from Vail, Colo., to Houston, where he lives.
Berkman will have arthroscopic surgery there May 25. So far, no ACL damage has
been found but the ligament has been stretched. Berkman surely will be out at
least two months, if not more.
OF/1B Allen Craig (left
hamstring strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 17. He
might be ready to return as soon as he is eligible.
RHP Kyle McClellan
(strained right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list May
18. He won't need surgery but likely will be sidelined at least late
July.
CF Jon Jay (sprained
right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 15.
RHP Scott Linebrink
(right shoulder capsulitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to
March 30. He felt tightness during an April 30 bullpen session, and he didn't
appear close to a return.
RHP Chris Carpenter (weak
right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He
probably won't pitch until at least June.
Link to boxscore: Philadelphia 10 at St. Louis 9