INSIDE PITCH
Some
notable contributions by rookie pitcher Joe Kelly and backup catcher Tony Cruz
were wasted Wednesday night when an inexperienced bullpen came undone again and
the Cardinals lost at Miami 5-3.
Kelly, making just his fourth start,
issued two walks through six innings. Both of them scored in a two-run Miami fifth. He left after
six innings, having allowed only those two runs on five hits.
When Cruz, giving Yadier Molina night
off, bashed his first major league home run in the seventh, Kelly was in line
for his second win.
But right-hander Fernando Salas was
solved for a home run by No. 8 hitter John Buck, who was hitting in the .150s
when the series began but hurt the Cardinals with four hits in three
games.
Left-hander Sam Freeman, another
rookie, replaced Salas and, two pitches later, pinch hitter Logan Morrison
homered -- after a review -- to put the Marlins ahead, 4-3.
Right-hander Victor Marte, effective
for the most part this season, was tagged for another run in the eighth and the
Cardinals had a good 6-3 trip instead of an outstanding 7-2 one. Their winning
streak was snapped at five.
Manager Mike Matheny said he had
walked through the clubhouse afterward to remind his team how good the trip had
been, notably after losing two out of three in Detroit to start it.
But the lingering aftereffect is that
the bullpen has to be fixed. The two home runs on Wednesday night ran the
Cardinals' total for their relievers to 27 for the season, third most in the
majors.
"We've got to get some outs," said
Matheny "We're at the bottom of the (batting) order and it was a good
opportunity to come right at them. We just didn't get it done."
NOTES,
QUOTES
RHP Joe Kelly had his
best start out of his first four in the majors—none has been bad—when he held
Miami to two runs in six innings. "I thought he was pitching more today rather
than relying on just stuff," said manager Mike Matheny. Two straight walks when
he got a bit loose with his delivery at the beginning of the fifth cost Kelly
both the runs he gave up, but Matheny said, "Overall, he did a nice job." Kelly,
still 1-0, said, "I felt more comfortable throwing off-speed stuff for strikes
early in the count."
C Tony Cruz had a single
and his first big-league home run in front of fans and family from the
Palm Beach, Fla., area. Regular C Yadier Molina pinch hit
for him in the ninth after the Cardinals had fallen behind. Manager Mike Matheny
said, "I told him this is a pretty tough league to get a single and a home run
and get pinch hit for. He's been working hard on his
stroke."
RHP Chris Carpenter, who
has been out all season with shoulder weakness attributable to a nerve
irritation, will see a nerve specialist, Dr. Gregory Pearl, in Dallas on Thursday.
Carpenter, whose shoulder strength had been improving, was scratched from a
bullpen session on Monday but felt good enough for an extensive throwing session
off flat ground on Wednesday in Miami. "I still have a little ways to go," said
Carpenter. "The way I felt two days, three days ago, compared to now, it's
definitely at a place where it feels good, much different. Monday was tough
mentally and physically because I didn't know what was going to happen next. We
got to Tuesday and it was totally different."
RF Carlos Beltran drove
in one of the Cardinals' runs in the first inning Wednesday with a sacrifice
fly. Beltran had 11 runs batted in over the last six games of the Cardinals'
nine-game trip.
LF Matt Holliday doubled
in the first, giving him six doubles for the trip. Holliday was 15-for-35 (.429)
on the trip, which vaulted his average to the .300 level.
RHP Adam Wainwright, who
has a 2.70 earned run average of his last four games, will start the homestand
opener Friday against Pittsburgh. Wainwright has made steady
improvement this year after missing all last year following elbow surgery. "I
feel like he's back," said C Yadier Molina.
By the
Numbers:
7 - Quality starts the
Cardinals had on their just completed nine-game trip. Both of the non-quality
starts were by RHP Lance Lynn, a 10-game winner.
Quote to Note:
"At some point, you need
it to progress forward."
- RHP Chris Carpenter on
his lengthy bout with a weak throwing shoulder.
MEDICAL
WATCH
LHP Jaime Garcia (left
shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 6. After
further examination, it was determined that he has tearing in his rotator cuff.
He won't throw until at least late July and is out until at least
mid-August.
1B Lance Berkman (torn
meniscus in right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list May 20. He had
arthroscopic surgery May 25, and no ACL damage was found. He might be able to
resume baseball activity in late June.
RHP Kyle McClellan
(strained right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list May
18. He won't need surgery but likely will be sidelined until at least late
July.
RHP Chris Carpenter (weak
right shoulder) 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.
Link to boxscore: Miami 5, St. Louis 3