INSIDE PITCH
Besides
the Pittsburgh Pirates blasting the Cardinals 9-0 Tuesday night, the Cardinals
lost catcher Yadier Molina when he was plowed into by Pittsburgh second baseman Josh Harrison in the second
inning as Harrison tried unsuccessfully to
score on a single to right field.
Molina suffered a strain to his upper
back, left shoulder and neck after Harrison
bowled him over, leading with his left shoulder and elbow. But no broken bones
were found and no concussion either after Molina underwent X-rays and a SCAT-2
concussion test mandated by Major League Baseball.
But Molina said he nonetheless was
sore, especially in the neck and head.
"I would love for him to slide, but
this is baseball," Molina said. "It's one of those things that is going to
happen."
Asked if it was a clean play by
Harrison, Molina responded, "You tell me. I
know it's part of baseball. I don't know if it was clean or not.
"I don't know if he had an opportunity
to slide or not. I never saw the guy coming.
"I'll be OK, for sure, but I'm pretty
sore right now. They did a bunch of tests. I was fine with the tests. There was
no concussion. Just a really bad headache."
Tony Cruz finished the game behind the
plate but for Wednesday night's series finale, catcher Bryan Anderson will be
recalled from Class AAA Memphis, along with right-hander Trevor Rosenthal.
Right-hander Brandon Dickson, who pitched three innings of mop-up Tuesday, and
infielder Ryan Jackson will be returned to Memphis.
NOTES,
QUOTES
RHP Jake Westbrook
(13-10), in the course of suffering his fourth loss in five decisions to the
Pirates this year and seventh in eight decisions in his career, took what he
might have deemed appropriate action when he hit 2B Josh Harrison in the upper
left leg with a pitch in the fifth inning after Harrison had bowled over
Cardinals C Yadier Molina in the second. Westbrook, offering up nothing, said,
"I was very erratic the entire game. I was all over the place. That's two
ballgames in a row I haven't pitched very well. I've got to figure some things
out, which I'm going to do. (The Pirates) seem to have my number. And not
pitching very well seems to compound that."
On the play on which C
Yadier Molina suffered strains to several parts of his upper body Tuesday night,
RF Carlos Beltran's throw home drifted toward Pittsburgh 2B Josh Harrison coming down from
third. Molina made a short-hop pickup but had little time to brace himself for
Harrison's forceful arrival. Manager Mike
Matheny, whose own catching career was cut short by a series of concussions,
said, "What a great play, taking that short hop. He's legitimately the toughest
player in this league. It's just a shame that he's down." Asked if the play was
legitimate, Matheny said, "What do you mean by legitimate? Everybody has the
option to slide. (Harrison) had an option to
slide and he didn't."
RHP Chris Carpenter, who
was thought to be done for this season, might not be. In between treatments and
then surgery for a nerve condition that affected his right shoulder, Carpenter
has thrown countless bullpen sessions. Just more than a month after his thoracic
outlet syndrome procedure, Carpenter threw 40 pitches in the bullpen on Tuesday.
Asked afterward if he would be able pitch before the season ended, Carpenter
said, significantly, "I don't know. Let's see what
happens."
RF Carlos Beltran, 2 for
19 on the trip and without an RBI since Aug. 19, when the Cardinals and
Pittsburgh Pirates played 19 innings, said his long bothersome left hand is not
the reason for his recent tumble. "I don't feel right right now," he said. "I
feel lost a little bit. But not a big deal. It will
change."
2B Skip Schumaker, who
had started at second base behind sinkerballer Jake Westbrook only once since
May 14, was in the lineup and hitting second on the strength of his 8-for-15
showing in the first four games of the Cardinals' trip. But he went 0-for-4
Tuesday.
3B David Freese, out with
a left wrist bruise, returned at third base and hit seventh. Rookie INF Matt Carpenter, who didn't start on Tuesday, had five hits and was on base six times
during the three games he replaced Freese at third. "You never want to be
satisfied with being a bench player, but at the same time you've got to accept
your role and do whatever's best for the team," said Carpenter. "The goal of a
bench player is that when you get your starts, the team goes on like it would if
whoever you're playing for would be in there. I feel like I've done a decent job
of that."
By the
Numbers:
1-7 - RHP Jake
Westbrook's career record against Pittsburgh, including 1-4 this
season.
Quote to Note:
"We can sit around and
twiddle our thumbs or we can see what's going on. I'm willing to see what's
going on."
- RHP Chris Carpenter,
throwing again after surgery to alleviate a nerve problem affecting his right
shoulder.
MEDICAL
WATCH
C Yadier Molina (strained
upper back, left shoulder and neck) was injured in a home-plate collision Aug.
28. Concussion tests were negative.
3B David Freese (bruised
left wrist) was hit by a pitch Aug. 24, and he didn't play Aug. 25-27. He
returned to the lineup Aug. 28.
1B Lance Berkman (right
knee inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 3. He began a rehab
assignment with Class AAA Memphis on Aug. 24, and he is expected to be activated
Sept. 1.
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. He underwent surgery July 19 to relieve thoracic
outlet syndrome.
Link to boxscore: Pittsburgh 9, St. Louis 0