INSIDE PITCH
The
Cardinals blew their eighth save in 16 opportunities and suffered their eighth
loss in 11 decisions for the bullpen. Those occurrences didn't happen on the
same play but they both added up to a 5- 3 loss in 10 innings to the
Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.
Right-hander Mitchell Boggs suffered
the blown save when he allowed a game-tying double by Phils left fielder Juan Pierre which scored pitcher Cliff Lee from first.
Right-hander Jason Motte, working in
his second inning, suffered the loss when he surrendered a two-run,
opposite-field home run on the first pitch he threw to right fielder Hunter Pence in the 10th inning.
"It was middle away but it was up,"
Motte said. "He's a good fastball hitter. He was able to put the barrel on it
and keep it fair."
The Cardinals missed chances at the
go-ahead run in the seventh, eighth and ninth.
Left fielder Matt Holliday flied to
the warning track in left with a man on to end the seventh. Catcher Yadier Molina was thrown out at home trying to score the go-ahead run in the eighth on
a double by rookie first baseman Matt Adams, who had three hits.
In the ninth, Holliday, who didn't
agree with the call on a 2-1 pitch, then struck out on the next pitch from
left-hander Raul Valdes and smashed his bat in the process.
"You play a long season, you play a
lot of games, you're going to have frustrating nights," Holliday said. "And this
was one of them."
NOTES,
QUOTES
C Yadier Molina bowled
over Phils C Carlos Ruiz as he tried to score in the eighth inning. Molina was
carrying the winning run but was tagged out by Ruiz, who lost his mask but not
the ball. "I hate to do that, I think this is my first time doing that in my
whole career, in my whole life," Molina said. "I hate doing that to another
catcher, but sometimes it's part of the game. If it happened to me I wouldn't
say anything bad," he said. Phils manager Charlie Manuel, in fact, called it "a
good baseball play."
RHP Kyle Lohse had no
walks and no strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings on the mound Friday. The last time he
did that was last June against the Phillies.
RF Carlos Beltran was not
in the original Cardinals lineup but assured manager Mike Matheny his tender
right knee was fine. Then Beltran went 0 for 5 with two
strikeouts.
1B Lance Berkman called
manager Mike Matheny after he had right knee surgery in Houston and said, "I'm
going to be back." The surgery was for meniscus and cartilage damage but not for
the important anterior cruciate ligament which would have been season-ending.
Berkman is slated to be out eight to 10 weeks. "It was great news," said Matheny
"As good a news as we could get. The doctors were extremely optimistic about
what they saw."
RHP Chuckie Fick, son of
a Cardinals scout, was called up late Friday night from Class AAA Memphis and is
scheduled to be in the Cardinals' bullpen on Saturday. Cardinals relievers have
blown eight saves and have suffered eight losses.
OF Allen Craig (strained
left hamstring) and CF Jon Jay (strained right shoulder) are progressing well
from injuries and both are expected to come off the disabled list next
week.
RHP Fernando Salas was
not used Friday night after pitching poorly on Thursday, matching some other
erratic performances. "He's working from behind and he's a little too much over
the plate," said manager Mike Matheny. "We've got to get him fixed. We've seen
some really good outings and a couple of others that haven't been quite
him."
By the
Numbers:
0-10 - The Cardinals'
record on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in May.
Quote to
Note:
"It was great to hear his
voice and hear that excitement. He's thinking about counting down the days until
he's back."
- Manager Mike Matheny on
1B Lance Berkman after Berkman's knee surgery went well in Houston.
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 had
arthroscopic surgery May 25, and no ACL damage was found. He might return in
mid- to late July.
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. He might be able to
return during the week of May 28-June 3.
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 5 at St. Louis 3 (10 innings)