Cards @ Giants – 4/13

Update (8:15 pm):  Game over.  Cards lose.  Who’s to blame?  I guess no one, but maybe everyone.  You can’t win ’em all, but I thought this one would be a tougher fought battle than it turned out to be.  In the beginning, I thought it was brilliant for Tony La Russa to have Aaron Miles sacrifice the runner over to third in the first inning. Normally, with no one out, you’d like to play for the big inning, but with Tim Lincecum on the hill for the Giants, scoring early might be the difference in the game.  Well, I was wrong. The Cards missed out on an early scoring opportunity, and Joel Pineiro’s first start of the year left a lot to be desired.  He allowed 6 runs on 10 hits in only 3 2/3 innings.

It was no surprise that the offense struggled against Lincecum, but you can’t help but wonder if the outcome would have been different if Albert Pujols and the rest of the regulars would have been in there. Ultimately, the Cards had scoring opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize.  That seems to be the theme here in the early part of the season. Today’s final, Giants win 7-4.  Here’s the full recap and box score.

Now at 9-4, but still in first place by a half game in the Central, the Cards will take tomorrow off before hosting the Brew Crew for three games at Busch.  The upcoming series might be the first true test for Redbirds.  Luckily, the club won’t have to face Milwaukee’s best hurlers, Ben Sheets and Yovani Gallardo. With the front of the rotation starting for the Cardinals, I expect them to win two of three.  It’s times like this when I wish I was back in St. Louis.

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The Cards will try to end the road trip on a high note today, hoping to head back to St. Louis with a 10-3 record.  Joel Pineiro takes the ball for the Redbirds.  The Giants counter with young flamethrower Tim Lincecum.Yesterday, I speculated that Albert Pujols would get the day off.  I had no idea that Troy Glaus and Cesar Izturis would also be out of the lineup.  Actually, I’m not too surprised.  In years past, Tony La Russa has been known to give several players rest on the same day, especially in the final game of a series.Here’s today’s lineups:

St. Louis Cardinals

1. Skip Schumaker  LF
2. Aaron Miles  SS
3. Rick Ankiel  CF
4. Ryan Ludwick  RF
5. Chris Duncan  1B
6. Rico Washington  3B
7. Yadier Molina  C
8. Joel Pineiro  P
9. Adam Kennedy  2B

San Francisco Giants

1. Fred Lewis  LF
2. Eugenio Valez  2B
3. Randy Winn  CF
4. Bengie Molina  C
5. Jose Castillo  3B
6. John Bowker  RF
7. Rich Aurilia  1B
8. Brian Bocock  SS
9. Tim Lincecum  P

I’ll have more after the game, and if you missed it, check out this morning’s post. Let’s go Cardinals!