After an ugly loss like Friday’s, team leaders are the ones who do their jobs and pick up the team. That’s exactly what happened Saturday, as Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer and Chris Carpenter pitched eight strong innings for a 4-1 Cardinals win.
Each gave us a signature moment in the process.
Albert’s homer was No. 20 for the season, getting him more on track for a “regular” year after all. He’s now in the top 5 home run leaders in the NL, a category led by Lance Berkman and Matt Kemp with 24 each. Last night’s line drive shot was yet another typical Albert blasts at a moment it’s needed most.
The Cards were down 1-0 in the fifth, Bronson Arroyo had been pitching well but had given up a couple of hits in the inning (including a daring two-out bunt by Jon Jay). It was a moment to take advantage — and Albert did. See for yourself here. (I love Dusty Baker’s head-scratching reaction.)
The end of the eighth inning was classic CC. It had been a rough one, as a bobble by Daniel Descalso at short allowed Joey Votto to reach and a wild throw by Nick Punto let Scott Rolen aboard. (More on Punto coming up.) Chris Heisey was up with two outs, CC had already thrown more than 100 pitches, the count went full … Heisey swung and missed at a pitch very wide of the plate. And CC pumped his arms and screamed as he walked back to the dugout. Part of the reaction is at the end of this video that recaps his great night, but not the replay of it that Fox Midwest showed (and I rewound to watch again). Classic CC intensity – a vein was even popping out in his neck as he yelled.
Those moments provided a needed win to get the Cardinals back on track.
One unfortunate result of the game, though, appears to be a return trip to the disabled list for Nick Punto. That ugly throw in the eighth inning wasn’t just an error – it was because of his elbow, as Joe Strauss reports in the Post-Dispatch.
Very unfortunate, as Punto has been hurt more often than not this season.
The Cardinals try to win the series this afternoon, with Jaime Garcia looking for his 10th win (and first since signing his contract extension). Game time is 12:10 p.m. Central.
Christine Coleman is the senior St. Louis Cardinals reporter for Aaron Miles’ Fastball. Follow her on Twitter, @CColeman802, or email aaronmilesfastball@gmail.com. Also follow @AMilesFastball for the latest updates.
And so they drop two of three in Cincinnati.
For chrissakes, they got beat by Homer Freaking Bailey.
Sometimes, this team … just pisses me off.
Maybe it’s the damn heat lately.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It would be good if they could get a good run together and win a bunch of games — get some distance between them and the cluster atop the Central.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0