Game 30 vs. Cin., L 4-6: Jo-El continued his quest to win at least 12 games by throwing just one type of pitch. Even though he retired 13 of his last 14, he got beat up early in the game and it added up to a loss. Johnny Cueto continues to make me regret dropping him early in my fantasy league by going seven innings and allowing only one run. Reds reliever David Weathers was pulled out of the concession stand to allow three runs, including Tyler Greene's first career dinger, but it wasn't enough for a dubya.
Game 31 vs. Cin., L 3-8: Lohse pitched decently most of the game. After allowing a couple initial runs, he cruised until the fifth. He was having trouble and decided that pitching to pitcher Aaron Harang would be a certain out, but it certainly wasn't. Harang lined in a few runs to put the game more or less out of reach. Ryan Ludwich hit his eighth homer of the season but that was about all the offense could muster for the forgettable game.
Game 32 vs. Cin., W 8-7: The Cardinals pitchers were having trouble keeping the Reds in their hemisphere. Wainwright still wasn't his usual self. He allowed four runs in six labored innings. By the time the ninth inning rolled around, closer Ryan Franklin tied up the game by giving up a home run to pitcher Micah Owings. After I got over the shock of Ryan Franklin giving up runs, I assumed Chris Perez would close out the game after Rasmus hit a "clutch" RBI double in the top of the 10th. Perez has experience closing, hadn't pitched in two days, and had the best arm left in a very depleted bullpen. With all those factors pointing toward Perez, LaRussa decides that Blaine Boyer is the best choice to end the game. BB did what he does best and BB'd two hitters and filled the bases in 2/3 inning. Perez came in and got the final out. It marked the fifth time in eleven appearances that Perez pitched less than an inning. LaRussa seems content to use his golden arm as a mop rather than a consistant tool in the bullpen.The win salvaged the series for the Cards and made all those people in the stands carrying brooms realize they are foolish.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
But did the mustache break Ankiel's fall? You didn't address this. At the very least did it make a cool, trendy, rebellious sound as he hit the wall?
2 - Brian Kist
He was mustache-naked (indecent, if you will) at the time of the accident. He probably could have avoided some injury if he had had the wind drag provided by a mustache.