Wagonmaker’s Wheels Come Off

I’m back!  I finished moving into my new place, and my internet is working somehow, even though the cable guy can’t get out here until Thursday.  Oh well.  I’m not complaining.  So, barring any interruption in service, I’m back to my normal routine of posting every day.  Be sure to check back daily.

Unfortunately, in this first post from my new home, I’m reporting a loss.  The Cardinals dropped a tough one to Pittsburgh tonight, which ended the four game series in a split.

Through the first six innings, it looked as though the Cards were on their way to eleven games over .500 for the first time this season.  Starter Adam Wainwright was dealing. Someone flipped a switch in the seventh, and the Pirates loaded the bases before a Jason Michaels pinch-hit grand slam to even the score at four.  Wainwright allowed the go-ahead run in the eighth, and finished after 103 pitches through eight. His ERA rose to 3.12.  It was his first loss of the season at Busch.

The Cardinals offense plated four runs in the first three innings, thanks to a pair of RBI each from Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick.  After that, the bats were pretty quiet, although there were some missed opportunities, and six runners left stranded.  Here’s the full recap and box score.

Now the Cards are 34-25, and three games behind the red hot Chicago Cubs.  The next nine games are on the road.  A three game series in Washington starts tomorrow night, followed by three in Houston, an off day next Monday, and finishing in Cincinnati.

More bad news.  Joel Pineiro will miss his second straight start.  Rookie Mike Parisi will get his second start in Pineiro’s place on Thursday, despite a poor outing in his first audition. Matthew Leach has more.

So you want some good news?  Guess who was selected as the National League’s pitcher of the month for May?  Our very own Todd Wellemeyer.

“I never thought I would get that,” said Wellemeyer.

Neither did we.  Check out the numbers.  Wellemeyer made six starts in May, combining for 37 innings.  He compiled a 4-0 record with a 2.19 ERA.  That’s quite an achievement for a guy that even the Royals didn’t want.  He’s quickly becoming one of my favorites, and not much of a stretch to pencil in a win on days that he pitches (next turn on Wednesday).  Lee Hurwitz has more on Wellemeyer.

The Cardinals need to win tomorrow.  I’d hate to have to move again.