Redbirds Week in Review: 3/25/12 – 4/1/12

Let’s break down the last full week of the Spring Training. The opener is about 48 hours away!

March 30, 2012; Jupiter, FL, USA; A general view of the field being prepared before a spring training game between the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

Monday, March 25, 2012 – Cardinals 9, Twins 2

Kyle Lohse struggled early, but got the W as the Cards improved to 13-6 this spring. He gave up quick home run to Luke Hughes in the first but that’s all he’d give up until the sixth.  The Cardinals responded in the fourth on Matt Holliday‘s two run bomb. Luke Hughes in the sixth tied the game but that would be the last run the Twins would get on this day. Brian Duensing came in for the twins in the sixth and couldn’t keep the game tied.  Daniel Descalso and Carlos Beltran singled.  Eric Komatsu bunted them over and Lance Berkman drove in the go ahead run on a single. In the seventh Shane Robinson extended the lead with a home run.  The Cardinals then greeted ex-teammate Brad Thompson with a four run pounding. Tony Cruz got it started with a single.  Matt Carpenter drove him home with a double.  Tyler Greene walked and Jon Jay shut the door on this game with a three run homer.  The Cardinals bullpen the last three innings gave up only two hits and struck out three to shut the door. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2012 – Mets 6, Cardinals 3

Sometimes it’s not how you start its how you finish and the Cardinals started out well just didn’t finish it.  The Cardinals got two runs of Mets ace Johan Santana.  Rafael Furcal and Carlos Beltran walked and Matt Holliday drove in Furcal with a single.  David Freese walked to load the bases.  Matt Carpenter struck out. Tyler Greene drove in the second run on a sac fly but Shane Robinson would strike out to end it.  Cardinal pitching imploded in the top of the seventh.  Daniel Murphy got it started with a single and Ronny Cedeno walked. After a flyout, Justin Turner doubled to drive in Murphy.  Mark Rzepczynski came in and didn’t do much better.  Vinny Rottino got an infield hit driving in Cedeno.  He then uncorked a wild pitch letting Turner score and then walked Josh Thole.  After a flyout, he walked Cory Vaughn.  Kyle McClellan came in and gave up another RBI single, this time to Ruben Tejada. Daniel Murphy, who started it all, ended it with a groundout.  Scott Linebrink gave up three straight singles in the eighth to Turner, Rottino and Thole for the Mets sixth run.  The Cards tried to rally and got one of the runs back in the ninth.  Daniel Descalso walked and a Brian Anderson double got him to third.  Eric Komatsu grounded out to drive in Descalso but that would be the last run in this one.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 – Cardinals 9, Tigers 5

After a day off, the Cardinals rebounded with a tough win over the Tigers.  Adam Wainwright probably had his worst outing of the spring.  Austin Jackson started it with a one out walk. Brennan Boesch singled.  Jhonny Peralta drove in Jackson with a single.  Don Kelly moved the runners over to second and third.  Andy Dirks drove in Peralta and Boesch with a single.  Wainwright got the rally started for the Cards in the bottom half of the inning with a walk.  Furcal doubled and Carlos Beltran drove in Wainwright with a single.  Matt Holiday drove Furcal in with a groundout.  In the fourth, Ramon Santiago doubled and then scored on another Cardinal error, this time by Furcal. The Cardinals responded in the fifth on Tyler Greene’s homer.  Mitchell Boggs came on in the sixth and hit Clete Thomas and then Brandon Inge drove him in with a double.  It was the last run for the Tigers.  Jon Jay cut it to 5-4 with a RBI single in the sixth.  Tyler Greene got an infield hit and Daniel Descalso walked to tie the game. The Cardinals again scored late to win with a three run seventh on RBI’s by Carpenter, Berkman and Jay.

Thursday, March 29, 2012 – Marlins 3, Cardinals 1

The only run the Cardinals could muster was a Carlos Beltran home run in the fourth.  Lance Lynn pitched well giving up a run in five innings. The bullpen couldn’t keep the game tied as Kyle McClellan took the loss giving up a run in his only inning of work.

Friday, March 30, 2012 – Cardinals 4, Mets 3

Kyle Lohse again went six strong giving up a run on his own throwing error.  He improved to 3-1 in the spring.  He even used his bat driving in the second run of a two run fourth inning to give the Cards the lead.  In the sixth, Matt Carpenter extended the lead with a solo homer.  Bryan Anderson singled and Adam Melker drove him in for the last Cardinal run of the game.  Fernando Salas almost blew the lead giving up a walk and three straight hits to make it 4-3.  Victor Marte came in and shut the door and kept it at 4-3 where it would stay.

Saturday, March 31, 2012 – Cardinals 6, Nationals 2

The Cardinals roughed up Stephen Strasberg and John Lannan.  In the second Matt Carpenter and Tony Cruz singled.  Carpenter was out at third on a force out.  Daniel Descalso doubled in Cruz and Komatsu and went to third on a throwing error.  Jake Westbrook drove in Descalso on a ground out.  In the sixth, Lance Berkman singled and Matt Carpenter walked.  Eric Komatsu drove in pinch runner Steven Hill and Descalso hit his second two-run double of the game.  Jake Westbrook gave up one run in 5.2 innings for his second win of the spring.

Sunday, April 1, 2012 – Nationals 2, Cardinals 1

The Nationals returned the favor in the home and home.  The Cardinals’ only run was on back to back doubles by Tyler Greene and Carlos Beltran in the fourth.  The Nationals responded in the sixth with a home run by Danny Espinosa.  Jason Motte couldn’t keep it tied. Espinosa and Roger Bernadina singled and Mark DeRosa drove in Espinosa with a single.

My next recap all the games will count.  Enjoy the start of the season!

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