INSIDE PITCH
Right
fielder Carlos Beltran is among the most efficient base stealers in major league
history. He was at 87 percent on 303 steals in 348 attempts before Friday night,
when he made a rare but very costly baserunning mistake to end the game as the
Cardinals lost at Philadelphia 3-1.
In the second inning, Beltran had
homered off Philadelphia right-hander Roy Halladay for one
of just two hits the Cardinals had off Halladay in eight innings. Then, with two
out in the ninth, Beltran singled with two out off right-hander Jonathan Papelbon.
First baseman Allen Craig, who had
doubled with one out, was held at third base by coach Jose Oquendo even though
it was unlikely Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown would have thrown
home.
After bluffing a steal attempt,
Beltran was set to go to second with third baseman David Freese at bat. A
successful steal would be put two runners in scoring position, but
...
"I got a little bit anxious," said
Beltran.
Papelbon pulled the classic
step-to-third-then-throw-to-first move. When Papelbon discovered Beltran already
had lit out to second, he turned and bounced a throw there, but shortstop Jimmy Rollins tagged out Beltran to end the game.
"He picked his leg up," said Beltran,
"and I thought he was going home. He made a pickoff move on me. You can't end a
game like that."
Manager Mike Matheny said tersely,
"The pitcher made a third-to-first move. (Beltran) was running. That's all there
is to it."
NOTES,
QUOTES
RHP Kyle Lohse remained
12-2 despite pitching seven innings and giving up just one run. "A shame,"
manager Mike Matheny said of Lohse not gaining a win. "Seven solid innings. You
can't ask him to do anything more than he did." Matheny lifted Lohse for a pinch
hitter with two out and nobody on in the eighth inning after Lohse had thrown
101 pitches. "I did all I could. I never question Mike when he takes me out,"
said Lohse."
LHP Barret Browning got
the call in the eighth inning of a tie game over veterans LHP Marc Rzepczynski
or Brian Fuentes. Manager Mike Matheney said he felt Browning was the right man
for the situation. "It just didn't work out," said Matheny after Browning served
up a game-deciding two-run homer to 2B Chase Utley. Matheny was banking on
Browning having his usual success against left-handers—Browning had held
left-handers to three hits in 24 at-bats since coming up from Class AAA Memphis.
But before he faced the left-handed-batting Utley, Browning allowed a single to
switch-hitting SS Jimmy Rollins and then committed a balk on an improper move to
first base.
LF Matt Holliday, 3B
David Freese and C Yadier Molina each went a third straight game without a hit
in the middle of the Cardinals' lineup. The Cardinals have had just four hits in
each of their last three games. CF Jon Jay has had five of the 12 hits, RF
Carlos Beltran three and INF Matt Carpenter three. 1B Allen Craig had the other
one.
SS Ryan Jackson, hitting
.269 with 10 homers at Class AAA Memphis, was summoned to replace INF Tyler Greene, who was traded to Houston the day before. Jackson also could play
second base.
RF Carlos Beltran hit his
28th homer in the second inning on Friday. He has 13 homers in either the first
or second inning this season, including eight in the first
inning.
By the
Numbers:
1 - Hits the Cardinals
have had with men in scoring position (14 at-bats) in the last three
games.
Quote to Note:
"He looked like the
Halladay we've seen too many times."
- Manager Mike Matheny on
Philadelphia RHP Roy Halladay, who held the Cardinals to two hits and one run
over eight innings.
MEDICAL
WATCH
1B Lance Berkman (sore
right knee) re-injured the surgically repaired joint Aug. 2 and was placed on
the 15-day disabled list Aug. 3.
LHP Jaime Garcia (left
shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 6, and he
was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 16. After further examination, it was
determined that he has tearing in his rotator cuff. He threw 40 pitches from 60
feet on flat ground for the first time in a month July 4. He threw live batting
practice July 25. He began a rehab assignment July 30 in the rookie-level Gulf
Coast League, and he was slated to make three or four starts before a potential
return to the Cardinals in mid-August.
RHP Kyle McClellan (torn
labrum in right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 18 due to a
strained right elbow, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 30. He
threw on flat ground for the first time July 3, but he subsequently felt
shoulder pain. He had season-ending shoulder surgery July
10.
RHP Chris Carpenter (weak
right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he
was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 10. He threw for the first time since
March on June 13 and then threw another 40 pitches on June 15. He threw to
hitters for the first time June 22 but then had a setback June 25 when he felt
renewed weakness in the shoulder. He said it felt better the next day, and he
had an extensive throwing session off flat ground June 27. On June 28, he was
told he has thoracic outlet syndrome, which can cause, among its effects,
weakness in one's shoulder. A July 2 bullpen session was canceled. He underwent
season-ending surgery July 19 to relieve thoracic outlet
syndrome.
Link to boxscore: Philadelphia 3, St. Louis 1