Cardinals Get Shutout

You can’t win if you don’t score, and in yesterday’s game, Giants’ starter Tim Lincecum made sure the Cardinals didn’t score.  The 3-0 defeat was the first time this season that the Cards were shutout.  They had a few opportunities, but the young Lincecum got big outs when it mattered most.  In the fourth, the Cardinals had two on with no outs, with Albert Pujols, Rick Ankiel, and Adam Kennedy due up.  Two strikeouts and a ground out later, the Cardinals still had no runs.  Pujols saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end with an 0 for 3 day.  Joel Pineiro showed improvement, but took the loss for St. Louis, his second in two starts. Here’s the full box score.

I don’t think there’s any blame to be placed in yesterday’s loss.  Sure, you’d like to see some timely hitting with runners on base, but sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other guy.  Lincecum is one of the better pitchers in the league, and there’s no doubt he’d win 18-20 games on a better ball club.

Braden Looper takes the mound for the Cardinals in today’s rubber match.  He’s sporting a 3-0 record with a 2.70 ERA.  Jonathan Sanchez will pitch for the Giants. The Redbirds haven’t lost a series nearly three weeks into the season, and they hope to keep it that way with a win today.  A loss, however, could knock the Birds from first place in the division.

I think a win will be big for the Cardinals.  Not only will it keep the streak alive and the Cards on top, but they haven’t lost consecutive games so far this year, and I believe going into Milwaukee tomorrow with some momentum is important.