The Cardinals came into their series against the Pirates facing a team that had won seven of its last eight. After battling hard and getting homeruns from Troy Glaus and Albert Pujols in game one, bullpen troubles and the lack of an arm that can shut the door late again was the story. Ron Villone blew the save and the Cards went on to lost 8-4 in extra innings. The Cardinals struck back in game two riding the arm of unlikely contributor Todd Wellemeyer, who is now 5-1 on the year. He shut down the Pirates through 7 innings and got some help from the human highlight reel that is Rick Ankiel who robbed Adam Laroche of a homerun then almost took his head off when he threw the ball in. In game three, Jason Isringhausen is making even the most optimistic of Cards fans pessimistic. He gave up a 3 run homerun to Jason Bay which put the Pirates ahead and opened the floodgates in what ended up an 11-5 loss.

   Before heading West, the Cardinals hosted a 3 game set against the AL East leading Tampa Bay Rays. They were shut down in game one by Andy Sonnanstine who shut the Cardinals out for 8 innings. Sonnanstine at 6-2 on the year is just another member of the surprise Rays that continues to impress. He also helped his own cause with 2 hits. In game two, the Cardinals and Rays struggled back and forth until Ryan Ludwick ended the game with a walkoff homerun in the tenth inning. Ludwick is having a real breakout year, he’s hitting .390 against right handers and Dan Wheeler became part of that statistic in a hurry. In game three, after honoring Stan Musial by renaming a street bordering Busch Stadium after him came back in dramatic fashion. They trailed by three going into the ninth, and the rally was capped off by a walkoff double by Skip Schumaker, another guy who’s finally getting a shot and is impressing everyone.

   On the first game of their West Coast trip, the Cardinals set off fireworks in an 8-2 win over the league-worst Padres. Pujols had two homeruns, Ludwick hit yet another to extend his team lead to 12 and Caesar Izsturis hit his first homer of the year. Todd Wellemeyer again dominated through 6 innings and the bullpen picked up the slack, shutting the door in the final 3 to seal the Cards’ win. In game two, Joel Piniero was great and rolling until he walked 2 in the sixth inning. After going down 1-0 to Kevin Kouzmanoff, he served up a pitch that was hit out of the park to straight away center field, and the Padres never looked back. In the finale of the series, the score was not the most important element of the game. The Cardinals won 11-3, and got big games from Troy Glaus and Ryan Ludwick (3 RBI each). They also got solid pitching from Braden Looper and a pinch hit homerun from Rick Ankiel in the eighth inning.

    In the third inning Albert Pujols hit a line drive that struck Chris Young (who is 6’10) right between the eyes. He is truly lucky to be alive as head injurys are no laughing matter, and from what I have heard he has a broken nose and probably a concussion. Also, while trying to take home in the same inning, Pujols slide into catcher Josh Bard and shattered his ankle. Can things get any worse for the Padres?

Cardinals open up a set in LA against the Dodgers tomorrow. I will also take a look at the Cardinals’ closing situation tomorrow.

 

Like this post? Share it »

Last post (s) by Brad Thomas

• It was good while it lasted... - September 3rd, 2008
• Isringhausen Leaves Cardinals With Career Threatening Injury - August 20th, 2008
• Cards take 2 of 3 from Reds…Notes from the LLWS - August 19th, 2008