News
Cards can't capitalize in loss to Marlins
Runs elusive as Pineiro struggles early in series finale
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
09/16/09 6:48 PM ET
ST. LOUIS -- If you saw the Cardinals play on Sunday or Tuesday, you have a pretty good idea of how things went on Wednesday. The starting pitcher had several good innings and one he couldn't overcome. And the offense couldn't overcome much of anything, despite a number of opportunities.A stagnant lineup once again went quietly as the Cards lost to the Marlins, 5-2, falling for the fifth time in six days. St. Louis' magic number to clinch the National League Central remained at 10 with 2 1/2 weeks remaining in the season. The Redbirds have been held to two runs or fewer four times in six games on their current homestand.
There were some fine differences. The Cards' offense was a little better on Wednesday, except when it came to timing. St. Louis had plenty of chances, but a dearth of hits with runners in scoring position. Starter Joel Pineiro didn't reach the heights that Adam Wainwright did on Tuesday, but neither did he have a disaster inning like Chris Carpenter on Sunday.
Overall, though, Busch Stadium has had a little bit of a "Groundhog Day" feel on the current homestand.
"It's really a rough spot for us," Pineiro acknowledged.
Pineiro had an odd outing. In the first inning, when he gave up very little hard contact, he was charged with three runs. In the second, when the Marlins really began tattooing the ball and it appeared Pineiro might be in some real trouble, he held them to a single run. And then he wasn't scored upon again.
Pineiro induced a ground-ball out from Chris Coghlan to begin the first inning, and Nick Johnson followed with a well-placed roller that sneaked through the right side for a single. Hanley Ramirez followed with a soft single to right field. Jorge Cantu hit a ball to the left side, and though Julio Lugo made a nice diving play to get to the ball, he couldn't get it out of his glove in time for even one out, and the bases were loaded.
Dan Uggla hit a ball to shallow right that scored a run, even though Cantu was thrown out at second -- thus taking away credit for a base hit from Uggla. John Baker and Cameron Maybin hit two-out RBI singles to make it 3-0 before the Cardinals took the field.
"I think he deserved better than three runs in the first, but that's just the game," manager Tony La Russa said.
In the second, an infield hit and a single to left put Pineiro in jeopardy, but a perplexing sacrifice bunt by Johnson gave him his first out. That allowed him to walk Ramirez, and though Cantu stung a ball to left field, it stayed in the park for a sacrifice fly. Uggla grounded out, and Pineiro was done, allowing four runs.
"They were finding holes," Pineiro said. "I kept staying with my strength, which was the sinker. They might have been up just enough for them to get it over the infield. But I felt good. I felt strong. It just wasn't our day today."
It certainly wasn't their day on offense. Florida starter Josh Johnson gave St. Louis chance after chance, but always shut the door. The Cardinals had a runner on base in every inning but the eighth. They managed 10 hits, but stranded 11 runners and went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
"When I needed to, I made pitches," Johnson said. "I was throwing pretty good pitches all day and they made good contact with the ball. I was throwing good pitches, and they got hits. I didn't walk anybody and that was huge for me. I kept the runs to a minimum. It was a good day. I was throwing the ball up in the zone when I wanted to."
The Cards got one last chance in the ninth, when Albert Pujols batted with the bases loaded in a four-run game. Pujols was hit, making it 5-2, but Matt Holliday hit into a double play to end the game.
Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
