INSIDE PITCH
How strange was Wednesday's game
in New York? Starters Johan Santana and Jaime Garcia, who had allowed just five hits and no runs total as each worked seven
innings the first time they had matched up in April (the game went 20 innings),
gave up eight runs between them in the first inning.
The Cardinals scored six
runs in the first off Santana and couldn't win in nine innings. And, no doubt
for the first time as a big-leaguer, Albert Pujols was retired twice in the same
inning.
But, four-plus hours
after the game started, Pujols did something he has done quite often in his
career -- delivered the game-winning hit. After going hitless in his first three
at-bats, extending his skid to 1-for-23, Pujols had three hits in his final four
at-bats, including a two-out, run-scoring single to win the game in the 13th
inning.
The winning pitcher was
an unusual one, too. Right-hander Mike MacDougal, who joined the team in the
afternoon from Class AAA Memphis, worked a perfect 12th inning to record the
victory. Right-hander Ryan Franklin nailed down his 19th save in 20
opportunities.
"We refused to lose,
actually, because we gave ourselves a chance," manager Tony La Russa
said.
Unsung hero? Probably
left-hander Trever Miller, who had been struggling but worked two scoreless
innings, the 10th and 11th, after right-hander Mitch Boggs was charged with four
runs in the eighth, with left-hander Dennys Reyes surrendering a key two-run
single to pinch hitter Ike Davis.
"That was kind of an ugly
eighth, but we showed a lot of guts hanging in there," La Russa
said.
Garcia probably was
unsung, too. Lost in the shuffle was his two-run single in the first after a
nine-pitch at-bat to help the Cardinals to their early six-run lead. Those were
Garcia's first two runs batted in as a big-leaguer. Garcia, who had left the
ball up too much in the first inning, righted himself and allowed only one run
over his final five innings.
The teams don't get much
time to rest. The series finale will begin just Thursday afternoon in New York, less than 12
hours after the previous game ended. The bullpen was worked hard Wednesday, and
right-hander Blake Hawksworth, who will start Thursday, has had trouble getting
past five innings.
CARDINALS 8, METS 7 (13
innings): The
Cardinals built a six-run lead in the top of the first inning and promptly lost
it, but 1B Albert Pujols delivered the go-ahead single in the 13th after his
slump had reached 1-for-23 early in the game. He had been only a .265 hitter on
the road this season. It was a rare road win lately for the Cardinals, who are
only 22-29 away from home and 18-27 after the first trip of the season. In the
two matchups between Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia and Mets LHP Johan Santana this
season, the games have lasted a total of 33 innings.
NOTES AND
QUOTES
GM John Mozeliak, on the
road with the team in New
York, said he didn't think the Cardinals would be making
any deals for an infielder but he said he still was searching for a starting
pitcher. Although RHP Kyle Lohse (forearm surgery) has done well so far on a
rehab assignment, Mozeliak said Lohse's progress was not a "linchpin" as far as
the Cardinals seeking another starter. Cleveland's Jake Westbrook likely is one of the
starters the Cardinals are pursuing.
RHP Mike MacDougal, who
had 20 saves for Washington last year, had his contract purchased from Class AAA
Memphis, and RHP Fernando Salas, who pitched two innings Tuesday, was sent out
for a fifth time. MacDougal was 2-0 with one save and a 3.86 ERA at Memphis after opting out
of his minor league deal with the Nationals. MacDougal got three easy outs in
his Cardinals debut in the 12th, gaining the win. Manager Tony La Russa had been
on the telephone earlier in the day with Class AAA manager Chris Maloney, and La
Russa said Maloney told him that MacDougal "has got plenty left. And he showed
it."
OF Jon Jay continued his
hot streak. The rookie had three hits and a walk and scored the winning run
after grounding into a forceout in the 13th inning. He is hitting
.385.
LF Matt Holliday
highlighted the six-run first inning off LHP Johan Santana with his 19th homer.
Holliday, who hit safely in his 13th straight game, also had a run-scoring
double off Santana in the sixth. He is riding the longest hitting streak of the
season for a Cardinal.
Manager Tony La Russa
took himself to task for removing RHP Jason Motte from the game in the eighth
after Motte, entering with two men on base, had retired Mets RF Jeff Francouer
on a fly to left for the second out. New York manager Jerry Manuel had only
left-handed hitters remaining on his bench and rookie C Jason Thole, another
left-handed batter, was the next hitter. So, La Russa brought in LHP Dennys
Reyes, who promptly walked Thole and then allowed a two-run, game-tying single
by left-handed-hitting PH Ike Davis. "I probably should have left Motte in to
face (Thole)," La Russa said. "I'm not real happy with that move, no matter how
it turns out."
By the Numbers:
15 - Number of extra-base hits for
rookie OF Jon Jay out of 36 hits in his first 93 big-league
at-bats.
Quote to Note:
"Everybody is looking for
help. We're assuming we won't get any and we win with what we've
got."
- Manager Tony La Russa, hoping a
trade will be made but prepared for nothing to happen before July
31.
ROSTER
REPORT
Medical
Watch:
RF Nick Stavinoha (right
shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 12. He
began a rehab assignment on July 26.
RHP Adam Ottavino (right
shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 4. He will
not undergo surgery but is probably out for the year.
3B David Freese (bone
bruise on right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 28.
He also broke his left big toe in mid-July, but he still expects to begin a
rehab assignment in late July or early August.
RHP Kyle Lohse (right
forearm strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 23, and he
was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 5. He had surgery May 28 to alleviate
muscle discomfort. Lohse begin a rehab assignment with Class AAA Memphis on July
26 and could return to the Cardinals in August.
RHP Brad Penny (strained
upper back) went on the 15-day disabled list May 22. He threw bullpen sessions
June 28 and July 1 but had to cut short a bullpen session July 6 because of
tightness in his triceps area. He underwent an MRI on July 7, which found
nothing that hadn't been diagnosed before. He is out
indefinitely.