INSIDE PITCH
Maybe
the Cardinals were looking ahead to the four-game weekend series at
Los Angeles.
Maybe they weren't. But whatever the case, they played the last three days in
San Diego as if
they had not given the proper attention to the Padres.
A 3-2 loss on Wednesday completed a
three-game sweep by San Diego and left the
Cardinals winless in their last seven games in California this season after winning their first one in
San Francisco in
May. The loss also was their 20th in their last 29 road games although they
somehow are still at the top of the list for the second wild-card berth in the
National League.
Right-hander Kyle Lohse's winning
streak was snapped at eight games as he lost his third in 17 decisions despite
walking no one, striking out eight and permitting just two earned runs in six
innings.
"He was sharp right from the
beginning," said manager Mike Matheny. "Those are the starts we have to
capitalize on."
The Cardinals had their chance in the
ninth inning but then engaged in some debatable strategy. First baseman Allen Craig doubled and then was pinch run for even though he was the cleanup hitter
and wouldn't be available to hit in the middle of the lineup in extra
innings.
Then catcher Yadier Molina, a .333
hitter with men in scoring position, sacrificed rather than swinging the bat.
Molina got the runner to third, but third baseman David Freese bounced out on
the first pitch and pinch hitter Skip Schumaker tapped out.
Matheny said Molina had bunted on his
own against slider specialist Luke Gregerson, the Padres' right-hander. And
Matheny was on board with it.
"He's got that freedom," said Matheny.
"We were in a great spot right there. Smart baseball."
Until Freese rolled over on the slider
instead of waiting it out and trying to hit the ball the other way.
Earlier, Molina, after a groundball to
shortstop, ran into an out at third in the second inning after Freese had struck
out, failing to advance Molina from second.
And right fielder Matt Carpenter
bobbled Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin's double, allowing a run to score
in the fifth inning. "Every run in a one-run game is crucial," said Matheny.
"That one did hurt.
"He didn't make the play down the line
that I know he wanted to make. And if he still hits the cutoff man, we may have
a play at the plate."
On the other hand, the impressive
rookie hit a two-run homer and had another hit. Carpenter had two hits. The rest
of the club had two.
The Cardinals are 32-39 on the road
this year and seem to be running in place. To the question of whether the
Cardinals are playing with urgency, Matheny said, "They're trying to force some
life and energy, but when we lose games like that and they stack up on each
other, it's hard to keep it.
"But we're still going about it the
right way."
NOTES,
QUOTES
RHP Kyle Lohse pitched
well Wednesday, giving up just two earned runs and fanning eight while walking
no one in six innings, but his winning streak was snapped at eight in a 3-2 loss
at San Diego.
"That was a tough one," said Lohse. "I felt really good."
RHP Lance Lynn, an
All-Star who has been in the bullpen since a two-inning start on Aug. 24, will
emerge to make Thursday night's start at Los Angeles. Lynn (14-7) said he had sharpened his mechanics
recently in bullpen appearances.
RHP Trevor Rosenthal, a
starter in the minors, relieved for the second day in succession and showed no
ill effects. He fanned one in a perfect seventh inning after striking out three
in one inning the night before.
RF Carlos Beltran sat out
Wednesday's start, replaced by rookie INF/OF Matt Carpenter. Beltran, an
All-Star, is hitting .199 since July 1. He walked as a pinch hitter in the
ninth.
LHP Jaime Garcia will
start as scheduled Saturday in Los
Angeles despite his 6.19 road ERA.
By the
Numbers:
1 - Hits with men in
scoring position the last two games for the Cardinals. They were 1 for 19
overall.
Quote to Note:
"We can't depend on the
other teams to keep losing. We've got to take care of our business. We're really
got to pick it up. That's the bottom line."
- RHP Kyle Lohse on the
fast-sliding Cardinals.
MEDICAL
WATCH
RHP Jake Westbrook
(strained right oblique) will miss a start or two but apparently will be able to
pitch again this season.
1B Lance Berkman (sore
right knee) is scheduled to undergo additional surgery Sept. 14 and is out for
the season. His career might be over as well.
RHP Chris Carpenter
(right shoulder surgery) 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. He underwent
what was believed to be season-ending surgery July 19 to relieve thoracic outlet
syndrome. He threw a normal bullpen session Sept. 7 and faced hitters in a
simulated game Sept. 10 in San
Diego.
SS Rafael Furcal (torn
ligament in right elbow) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 31 and is
out for the season. He might need Tommy John surgery, but he got a platelet-rich
plasma injection on Sept. 4 in the hopes of avoiding having to go under the
knife.
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.
Link to boxscore: San Diego 3, St. Louis 2