Lance Lynn powers Cardinals past Phillies

Lance Lynn is looking like the Lance Lynn that we saw in the first half of last season rather that what he did in the second half. The question, though, is can he keep this up for a full season.
April 15, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at PNC Park. The St. Louis Cardinals won 10-6. Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, Lynn had to step into the rotation following a season in the bullpen, where he also dealt with health issues. Lynn pitched 176 innings in 2012, a career high for him. With Memphis in 2010, Lynn pitched 164 innings for the Redbirds. Was he fatigued during the second half of the season? Maybe. He just had to learn to be a starter again.

He arrived to Jupiter in February weighing less than he did last season. Is that what he needed to improve his numbers this season? Maybe but I don’t know for sure until he see what he puts up during the entire season.

In four games started this season, Lynn is 3-0 with a 3.68 ERA. However, he seems to be alternating starts between a solid outing and a not-so-solid outing. Against the Cincinnati Reds on April 9, Lynn pitched 6 innings, struck out 10, and allowed one run to score. Last night, Lynn went 7 innings deep, striking out 8, and allowed no runners to score.

In games against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates, the right-hander allowed 4 earned runs a peace. While he struggled against the Pirates in 5 innings, it should be noted that the offense backed him up with 10 runs on the night, including a 7-run second inning.

Overall, Lynn has a 2.5 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio. That’s not too bad in the 22 innings he has pitched.

In the 5th inning, Carlos Beltran hit a home run off of Cliff Lee. It was his third consecutive game with a home run. The major league record is 8 consecutive games with a home run.

Catcher Yadier Molina had a 3-hit game to raise his batting average to .328 on the season. Offensively, the rest of the team is in a spell. Players that qualify in appearances include only 6 others. Next to Molina, Beltran is 2nd with a .267 batting average. Beltran and Matt Holliday, who is batting .246 this season, lead the team with 12 RBIs a piece while Molina and Allen Craig (.220) have 11 RBIs each. Including all players, Matt Adams leads the team with a .524 average.