Looper Gets Shelled in Loss

Ugly.  Really, really ugly.  After getting spotted a three run lead by Rick Ankiel’s homer in the first inning of game two in Houston,  starter Braden Looper immediately put the Cardinals in a hole by giving up six runs in the bottom half.  Manager Tony La Russa stayed with the pitcher into the fifth, but turned to his bullpen after a two run homer off the bat of Geoff Blum.  Looper’s line:  4.1 innings, 8 earned runs on 11 hits, 3 walks, and 1 strikeout.  Ugh!  Here’s the box score.

It’s tough to watch the Cardinals lose games to lesser teams down the stretch. They’re now back down to only 12 games over .500, with a record of 74-62.  What’s worse is they’ve gone 4-6 in their last ten games, and are now tied with the Phillies at 5.5 games behind the NL Wild Card leading Milwaukee Brewers.

Game three against Houston is later this afternoon.  Todd Wellemeyer will try to keep the Astros hitters in check to prevent the sweep.  He can’t do any worse than Looper.