INSIDE PITCH
The
Cardinals nearly wasted another outstanding effort by a starting pitcher --
their best of the four games they've played in the second half. But some control
issues by Milwaukee closer John Axford and some seeing-eye hits by the Cardinals
conspired for a three-run ninth-inning rally and a 3-2 win Monday that snapped a
three-game slide.
Lance Lynn fanned 10 and walked nobody
but left after seven innings trailing 1-0. Brewers first baseman Corey Hart
turned around a 1-1 cutter for his 17th home run in the seventh.
Reliever Jason Motte, who hadn't
pitched in nine days, came in, unusually, with his club losing and permitted a
run-scoring double by Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun in the eighth. It seemed
as if the Cardinals would follow the same format they had practiced in
Cincinnati.
But two key walks on full counts by
Matt Carpenter and Skip Schumaker and a high-hopping infield hit by Rafael Furcal loaded the bases with two out in the ninth inning.
Then Matt Holliday, who had extended
his hitting streak to 15 games but had been struggling with runners in scoring
position, bounced a two-strike single into right field to tie the game, and
Allen Craig looped a single in front of Braun to win the game.
"We've had runners out there the last
three or four games, but we haven't been able to get the big hit," said
Holliday.
Against Axford, who has having trouble
with his fastball command, Holliday said he was aiming to keep his swing under
control.
"I was just trying to be short, trying
to hit a groundball or a line drive back through the middle," Holliday said. "I
got to two strikes and I was just battling trying to put something in
play."
Manager Mike Matheny said, "You're not
going to be able to keep this offense down. Sooner or later, it's going to take
off on you."
Matheny praised his team's refusal to
quit and some "great at-bats" in the ninth inning. But he said, half-jokingly,
"There's nothing wrong with fighting hard in the first inning."
NOTES,
QUOTES
RHP Lance Lynn still is
11-4 but was very strong after 10 days' rest. He fanned 10 and walked nobody but
got a no-decision though he allowed just a solo homer by 1B Corey Hart in the
seventh inning. "I made one bad pitch (a cutter), but it cost me," said
Lynn. "It caught
a lot of the plate and he did a lot with it." It was the fourth straight game a
Cardinals starter had allowed two runs or fewer through six innings, but none of
them won. "They've pitched well enough for us to win all four games (after the
All-Star break) we've played so far," said LF Matt Holliday. Manager Mike
Matheny said Lynn "did absolutely everything he
could."
RHP Trevor Rosenthal, 22,
was purchased from Class AA Springfield to add some punch to a staggering
bullpen even though Rosenthal, impressive in spring training this year, had been
a starter in the minors. Rosenthal will pitch in middle relief at first. "When
you look at our problems in the sixth and seventh innings," said general manager
John Mozeliak, "we needed a guy who could give us those innings." Mozeliak
praised the young right-hander for pitching ahead in the count and added, "The
fact the throws 97 to 99 (miles an hour) doesn't hurt, either." Rosenthal said,
"I'll just listen to Yadi (All-Star catcher Yadier Molina)."
LHP Brian Fuentes has
reported to the Gulf Coast League club in Jupiter, Fla., and is throwing
side sessions until this weekend. General manager John Mozeliak said he foresees
Fuentes joining the big club in late July, if all goes well. "I'm not afraid to
have three left-handers, if we have to," said Mozeliak.
Having signed LHP Brian
Fuentes and having promoted hard-throwing RHP Trevor Rosenthal from the minors,
the Cardinals might have their bullpen improvements, but general manager John
Mozeliak is still working the phones. "If there's an additional piece to do, we
should consider it," said Mozeliak.
The Cardinals managed a
rare comeback victory when they had three key regulars on the bench at the start
of the game—1B Lance Berkman, CF Jon Jay and RF Carlos Beltran. All three did
get in the game, though.
RHP Jason Motte, though
he allowed an inherited runner to score in the eighth, worked a scoreless ninth,
fanning two, to get his fourth victory. Motte hadn't pitched in nine days, so
manager Mike Matheny brought him in with the Cardinals behind a run. "We needed
to get him in there," said Matheny.
RHP Maikel Cleto was sent
to Class AAA Memphis to make room for RHP Trevor Rosenthal, brought up from
Class AA Springfield. LHP Jaime Garcia (strained shoulder) was moved to the
60-day disabled list to make room for Rosenthal on the 40-man
roster.
By the
Numbers:
4 for 32 - Cardinals'
record with men in scoring position on this four-game trip before delivering two
key singles in the ninth inning.
Quote to Note:
"These guys demand to
come through in those situations. They're not content and happy whey they don't.
We've had Gatorade coolers and broken bats all over the
place."
- Manager Mike Matheny,
on the Cardinals' recent offensive struggles.
MEDICAL
WATCH
LHP Jaime Garcia (left
shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 6, and he
was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 16. After further examination, it was
determined that he has tearing in his rotator cuff. He threw 40 pitches from 60
feet on flat ground for the first time in a month July 4. He is out until at
least mid-August.
RHP Kyle McClellan (torn
labrum in right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 18 due to a
strained right elbow, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 30. He
threw on flat ground for the first time July 3, but he subsequently felt
shoulder pain. He had season-ending shoulder surgery July
10.
RHP Chris Carpenter (weak
right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he
was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 10. He threw for the first time since
March on June 13 and then threw another 40 pitches on June 15. He threw to
hitters for the first time June 22 but then had a setback June 25 when he felt
renewed weakness in the shoulder. He said it felt better the next day, and he
had an extensive throwing session off flat ground June 27. On June 28, he was
told he has thoracic outlet syndrome, which can cause, among its effects,
weakness in one's shoulder. A July 2 bullpen session was canceled. On July 3,
the Cardinals announced that Carpenter would undergo season-ending surgery July
19 to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome.
Link to boxscore: St. Louis 3 at Milwaukee 2