Back to Busch

After splitting the series with Colorado and losing the one to Milwaukee, the Cardinals head back home in second place.  Winning only 3 of 8 on the road trip drops their record to 23-17, and a game behind the Chicago Cubs.

Through much of the trip, we witnessed some bad baseball.  First it was the imploding bullpen, then the bad base running and more runners left stranded, and tonight we saw a bad outing from starter Adam Wainwright.

I remember thinking before the game started that Tony La Russa picked a good day to rest Albert Pujols.  It seemed like the odds favored the Cardinals.  Wainwright had been stellar up to this point, and Brewers’ pitcher Dave Bush was winless, with an ERA near 7.  I was predicting an easy win.  But, that’s why they play the games.

Highlights included Rick Ankiel’s seventh home run, and both La Russa and Yadier Molina were ejected for arguing balls and strikes.  Wainwright was roughed up, giving up 8 runs (6 earned) on 8 hits, in six innings.  He gave up two homers to Ryan Braun, and another to Bill Hall, after allowing only four in his first seven games.  Jason Isringhausen made his first appearance after moving from the closer’s role.  He pitched a scoreless eighth.  8-3 was the final.  Here’s the full recap and box score.

Now the Cards are happy to get back home, where they play their best baseball.  The Birds are 14-7 at Busch, and 9-10 on the road after the disappointing trip.  They’ll start the home stand tomorrow night against the Pirates, who despite being two games under .500, have won six of their last seven.  Phil Dumatrait gets the ball for Pittsburgh.  He’s 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA.  Kyle Lohse will start for the Cardinals.  He’s also gone Jekyll and Hyde, allowing only nine runs through his first six games, but fifteen in his last two.  Hopefully, Lohse can get back on track and the Cardinals can start playing better ball.  Winning the home stand could be key if the Cards want to stay in the race.