MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Eric Gagne no longer wants to be called the Brewers' closer. He's pitching his way out of that role, anyway.
The former NL Cy Young Award winner gave up a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning to Ryan Ludwick, and St. Louis held on for a 5-3 victory over Milwaukee on Saturday that snapped a season-long three-game skid.
"I don't deserve that ninth inning right now. It's pretty simple," Gagne said.
The beleaguered reliever was slumped in his locker room chair with his eyes closed for several minutes before putting his hands on his head. After a clubhouse official asked if he wanted to talk, he told reporters he doesn't need a "mental break" like Cardinals counterpart Jason Isringhausen asked for on Friday night.
"I don't need breaks. I need to keep going out there. I need results," said Gagne, who has a major league-leading five blown saves along with Isringhausen. "I get myself in a situation, in a jam, every single time I'm out there. You can't pitch like that."
Prince Fielder hit a tying homer in the eighth for Milwaukee, but the slumping Brewers botched a squeeze play later in the inning and lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Gagne, who signed a one-year deal for $10 million this offseason, has nine saves, but has faltered in back-to-back games, this time in a non-save situation.
Gagne (1-2) gave up consecutive singles to start the ninth. After Aaron Miles hit a 15-foot grounder that advanced the runners, Gagne intentionally walked Albert Pujols to load the bases with one out for Rick Ankiel, who fouled out. Ludwick grounded a single just past shortstop J.J. Hardy to give St. Louis a 5-3 lead.
"I am never nervous in that situation. I love that situation. I have been blessed with that opportunity a lot since I've been here and have been fortunate to come through in a lot of the situations I've been in," Ludwick said. "I feel like that's what baseball is all about -- that situation, being in that moment."
Gagne said his struggles have been embarrassing for him.
"Every time we get a little momentum, I come out there and kill that rally," Gagne said. "It's a matter of going out there and executing your pitches -- not thinking results -- and I'm thinking results. I'm going out there thinking three outs before I can even get one."
Brewers manager Ned Yost refused to pull Gagne from the closer's role immediately after the game.
"I don't sit here and make decisions five minutes after a tough loss. I'll sit and think," Yost said. "You guys have known me long enough, I take a long time to analyze things and give everybody the benefit of the doubt and try to make the right decision."
Ryan Franklin, who took over the closer's role for the Cardinals on Saturday from Isringhausen, got three outs for his third career save and second this year. Still, Franklin said Isringhausen will return after a short break to refocus.
"He's the closer," Franklin said. "Hopefully, we can handle the ninth inning until he gets back."
Chris Duncan hit a two-run homer and the Cardinals built a 3-0 lead against Brewers ace Ben Sheets, who set a franchise record with 1,086 strikeouts.
But Milwaukee rallied for the second consecutive game. The Brewers scored two runs in the seventh on two walks by reliever Kyle McClellan and another in the eighth on Fielder's first homer in 42 at-bats.
Then Milwaukee cost itself a potential big inning. Russ Springer (1-0) relieved left-hander Ron Villone following Fielder's homer, walked two and allowed an infield single to load the bases with one out.
On Springer's first pitch to Jason Kendall, Bill Hall broke from third because the squeeze was on, but Kendall missed the sign. Hall was tagged out in a rundown and Kendall grounded out to end the inning.
"I missed a sign and it's unacceptable," Kendall said. "I cost us the game."
Cardinals starter Joel Pineiro was superb through six innings, allowing just two hits to Ryan Braun before falling apart in the seventh. After Pineiro left with the bases loaded and one out, McClellan walked in Milwaukee's first two runs to make it 3-2.
Sheets struck out six in seven innings. He fanned Pujols on an 0-2 breaking ball in the first to reach 1,082 strikeouts, breaking Teddy Higuera's club mark. Higuera pitched for Milwaukee from 1985-91 and 1993-94.
But there was no celebration in the wake of Gagne's performance.
"Closing is an emotional job," Gagne said. "It's a roller coaster. You do good, you're a hero. You do bad, you're a zero."
Game notes
Pujols singled to extend his streak of reaching base safely in every game this season to 38. It's the longest run to start a season since Derek Jeter went 53 games in 1999. ... Cardinals 3B Troy Glaus (left triceps) pinch hit after being hit by a pitch Friday night. Glaus, who was still visibly swollen, said he felt "all right" and was expected to return to the starting lineup on Sunday.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Isringhausen Wants a Break
By Coley Ward
The Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss today reports that there is growing concern about the work of closer Jason Isringhausen, who has already blown five save chances this year. After his most recent blow-up, Izzy said he is sick of embarrassing himself and hurting the team. He suggested a meeting today with manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan and general manager John Mozeliak to find at least a temporary alternative to using him in the ninth inning.
In the short term, Ryan Franklin or Randy Flores could be called on to close games for the Cards, though neither pitcher strikes out many batters. Ron Villone currently has an ERA under 1.00 and is averaging almost one strikeout per inning, but the last time he finished a season with an ERA under 4.00 was 1997. Still, he might prove a capable option while Izzy works to get his groove back.
If Isringhausen can't correct his mechanics, St. Louis could be in the market for a closer come July. Closers who could be available include George Sherrill, Matt Capps, Chad Cordero and Huston Street (who has had his own struggles of late). Joakim Soria seems a logical trade candidate, though there is talk he could be converted to a starter.
The Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss today reports that there is growing concern about the work of closer Jason Isringhausen, who has already blown five save chances this year. After his most recent blow-up, Izzy said he is sick of embarrassing himself and hurting the team. He suggested a meeting today with manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan and general manager John Mozeliak to find at least a temporary alternative to using him in the ninth inning.
In the short term, Ryan Franklin or Randy Flores could be called on to close games for the Cards, though neither pitcher strikes out many batters. Ron Villone currently has an ERA under 1.00 and is averaging almost one strikeout per inning, but the last time he finished a season with an ERA under 4.00 was 1997. Still, he might prove a capable option while Izzy works to get his groove back.
If Isringhausen can't correct his mechanics, St. Louis could be in the market for a closer come July. Closers who could be available include George Sherrill, Matt Capps, Chad Cordero and Huston Street (who has had his own struggles of late). Joakim Soria seems a logical trade candidate, though there is talk he could be converted to a starter.
Cardinals Yank Jason Isringhausen From Closer's Role
May 10, 2:27 PM (ET)
By COLIN FLY
MILWAUKEE (AP) -Jason Isringhausen got his wish.
After blowing his major league leading fifth save on Friday night in a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals' embattled reliever will no longer close games, manager Tony La Russa said Saturday.
"He's still prepared to pitch important innings, but for a while we'll try to keep him out of the ninth inning," La Russa said. "If we're playing well, there's still going to be games where you can't cherry pick his situations because if we're playing well, you need your bullpen."
The Cardinals manager said the closing duties will be split between Ryan Franklin and Russ Springer, and that he wouldn't shy from using a left-hander in the role against certain lineups.
"We'll mix and match," La Russa said. "I think all things, everyone rested, Franklin and Springer are the guys that match up the best."
Franklin, who had been the setup man, said he hadn't been told what his new role might be, but the right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 19 appearances this season.
"He gets righties and lefties out, he's very quick off the mound, so he's tough to run on," La Russa said. "He gives you a lot as a guy that's pitching important innings in games."
Isringhausen, who has four blown save opportunities in his last seven appearances and is 1-4 with a 7.47 ERA, said Saturday he met with La Russa and agreed he needed to be pulled from the role.
"It needed to be done," he said. "It's a mental break more than anything."
Isringhausen, who leads the NL with 11 saves and is eight saves shy of 300 for his career, was clearly upset after Friday's game, putting all the blame on himself.
"I'm just getting sick of embarrassing myself and letting my team down," he said Friday night. "We should be five more wins in the win column in my mind, so we should be ahead in first place even more. But they can't keep sending me out there when I'm pitching the way I'm pitching.
"We're going to have to figure out some kind of remedy. I'm sure that remedy will give me some time off and get somebody in there that can do a better job right now. ... I'm just pitching like a second grader."
La Russa told Isringhausen on Saturday that it's no different from when a top hitter is struggling in the lineup. La Russa's only options would be to shuffle the lineup or give a player a few days on the bench.
In Isringhausen's case, La Russa wants to keep him active and fresh, but still give him a mental break from the taxing role of being the closer.
"He's not hurting, he's just pressing and lost his confidence," La Russa said. "You go back to the drawing board a little bit on his delivery so he can locate better, and you give him some appearances and hopefully he gets people out and his confidence goes back up."
Both Isringhausen, who is 23rd on the career saves list, and La Russa think he'll return to the closer's role once he has time to refocus.
"The last three outs are different, the most difficult," La Russa said. "It takes a special guy to do that. It's true that he's that guy, but we've just got to do what it takes to get him right."
By COLIN FLY
MILWAUKEE (AP) -Jason Isringhausen got his wish.
After blowing his major league leading fifth save on Friday night in a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals' embattled reliever will no longer close games, manager Tony La Russa said Saturday.
"He's still prepared to pitch important innings, but for a while we'll try to keep him out of the ninth inning," La Russa said. "If we're playing well, there's still going to be games where you can't cherry pick his situations because if we're playing well, you need your bullpen."
The Cardinals manager said the closing duties will be split between Ryan Franklin and Russ Springer, and that he wouldn't shy from using a left-hander in the role against certain lineups.
"We'll mix and match," La Russa said. "I think all things, everyone rested, Franklin and Springer are the guys that match up the best."
Franklin, who had been the setup man, said he hadn't been told what his new role might be, but the right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 19 appearances this season.
"He gets righties and lefties out, he's very quick off the mound, so he's tough to run on," La Russa said. "He gives you a lot as a guy that's pitching important innings in games."
Isringhausen, who has four blown save opportunities in his last seven appearances and is 1-4 with a 7.47 ERA, said Saturday he met with La Russa and agreed he needed to be pulled from the role.
"It needed to be done," he said. "It's a mental break more than anything."
Isringhausen, who leads the NL with 11 saves and is eight saves shy of 300 for his career, was clearly upset after Friday's game, putting all the blame on himself.
"I'm just getting sick of embarrassing myself and letting my team down," he said Friday night. "We should be five more wins in the win column in my mind, so we should be ahead in first place even more. But they can't keep sending me out there when I'm pitching the way I'm pitching.
"We're going to have to figure out some kind of remedy. I'm sure that remedy will give me some time off and get somebody in there that can do a better job right now. ... I'm just pitching like a second grader."
La Russa told Isringhausen on Saturday that it's no different from when a top hitter is struggling in the lineup. La Russa's only options would be to shuffle the lineup or give a player a few days on the bench.
In Isringhausen's case, La Russa wants to keep him active and fresh, but still give him a mental break from the taxing role of being the closer.
"He's not hurting, he's just pressing and lost his confidence," La Russa said. "You go back to the drawing board a little bit on his delivery so he can locate better, and you give him some appearances and hopefully he gets people out and his confidence goes back up."
Both Isringhausen, who is 23rd on the career saves list, and La Russa think he'll return to the closer's role once he has time to refocus.
"The last three outs are different, the most difficult," La Russa said. "It takes a special guy to do that. It's true that he's that guy, but we've just got to do what it takes to get him right."
What should have been a win turned into a 2 out/bottom of the 9th loss.
It's just time for Tony [La Russa, manager], 'Dunc' [pitching coach Dave Duncan] and 'Mo' [general manager John Mozeliak] to figure out what to do," Isringhausen said. "Until I can get back on track or whatever the case might be, I'm sick of embarrassing myself and letting my team down."
In other words, Izzy knows he sucks more than everyone thinks but is forced to pitch by LaRussa and the front office because the rest of the bullpen is at the calibre of a Class A affiliate of Tajikistan. Thanks Bill for being a cheap bastahd.
"What do you want me to do, make him feel worse than he already does?" La Russa said, commenting on whether or not he may change closers after Izzy's blown save. "That's not our team's way of going about it. He feels worse than the fans do."
Apparently it's better to endure losses for the entire team rather than hurt the feelings of a pitcher who knows he needs work and is willing to accept that fact. Thanks Tony for hearing but not listening to Izzy when he tells you he's not up to speed, it takes a big man to throw an entire team into the trash bin for the sake of one average closer. Where you guys get an 'ace' reliever I have no idea, I haven't seen an ace worthy season from him since you acquired him.
"Now, I don't have an explanation. I'm pitching like a second-grader," Izzy said, commenting on a comparison to his 10 blown saves in 2006 due to injuries.
I tell you what Tony, this guy is telling you and everyone he is not up to speed right now and needs a break yet you're insisting on using him. If the Cardinals end up with another crap season after gutting the team in 2006, you are going to have a lot of pi**ed off Redbird fans who will be glad to see you gone when your contract is up. I for one am a big supporter of your work with them, but if it's getting to the point where you're ignoring the players when they tell you they aren't right mentally to play and you are sacrificing wins for the feelings of one player then I'd rather you were gone, and I know a lot of us fans feel that way.
In other words, Izzy knows he sucks more than everyone thinks but is forced to pitch by LaRussa and the front office because the rest of the bullpen is at the calibre of a Class A affiliate of Tajikistan. Thanks Bill for being a cheap bastahd.
"What do you want me to do, make him feel worse than he already does?" La Russa said, commenting on whether or not he may change closers after Izzy's blown save. "That's not our team's way of going about it. He feels worse than the fans do."
Apparently it's better to endure losses for the entire team rather than hurt the feelings of a pitcher who knows he needs work and is willing to accept that fact. Thanks Tony for hearing but not listening to Izzy when he tells you he's not up to speed, it takes a big man to throw an entire team into the trash bin for the sake of one average closer. Where you guys get an 'ace' reliever I have no idea, I haven't seen an ace worthy season from him since you acquired him.
"Now, I don't have an explanation. I'm pitching like a second-grader," Izzy said, commenting on a comparison to his 10 blown saves in 2006 due to injuries.
I tell you what Tony, this guy is telling you and everyone he is not up to speed right now and needs a break yet you're insisting on using him. If the Cardinals end up with another crap season after gutting the team in 2006, you are going to have a lot of pi**ed off Redbird fans who will be glad to see you gone when your contract is up. I for one am a big supporter of your work with them, but if it's getting to the point where you're ignoring the players when they tell you they aren't right mentally to play and you are sacrificing wins for the feelings of one player then I'd rather you were gone, and I know a lot of us fans feel that way.
Izzy can't close door in Cards' loss
Pujols' seventh homer, Wellemeyer's solid start for naughtMILWAUKEE -- Two pitches. Two outs.
It should have been a successful recipe for St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen, who barely broke a sweat retiring the first two men in the ninth inning of a one-run game.
Instead, it was an unlikely prequel to Milwaukee's dramatic rally, part of a 4-3 outcome that not only gave the Cardinals a three-game losing streak for the first time this season, but also put the back end of the bullpen in flux.
Rickie Weeks singled home the go-ahead runs, and the Brewers snapped a six-game losing streak at the expense of Isringhausen, who now has five blown saves, including back-to-back opportunities.
"It's just time for Tony [La Russa, manager], 'Dunc' [pitching coach Dave Duncan] and 'Mo' [general manager John Mozeliak] to figure out what to do," Isringhausen said. "Until I can get back on track or whatever the case might be, I'm sick of embarrassing myself and letting my team down."
Trying to shake off the residuals from a blown save two nights earlier, Isringhausen mowed through Corey Hart and Bill Hall on two pitches. But J.J. Hardy and Gabe Kapler followed with singles, and Jason Kendall walked to set up Weeks.
The second baseman, batting under .200 for most of the season, delivered a sharp liner to left.
"We should have five more wins in the win column, in my mind," Isringhausen said. "We should be out in first place even more. They can't keep sending me out there when I'm pitching the way I'm pitching. I'm going to have to figure out some kind of remedy. I'm sure that remedy will give me some time off from the role and get someone in there who can do a better job right now."
They were surprising words from a pitcher who said his ailments had nothing to do with physical health.
"I'm low 90's [in velocity], which is where I've been the last few years," he said. "I've got good bite on my breaking ball ... but when you're behind everybody ... my curveball is an out pitch, it's not a throw-for-a-strike pitch. I don't feel bad physically, so I know it's a mental thing."
Albert Pujols crushed a 450-foot home run in the first inning against Brewers starter Manny Parra, and St. Louis had a 3-0 lead after two, but the Cardinals never added on despite a golden opportunity for more in the second.
Pitcher Todd Wellemeyer helped his cause with a bases-loaded, no-out single, and Cesar Izturis walked to make it 3-0 before Milwaukee recorded an out in the second inning.
Skip Schumaker lined to first baseman Prince Fielder, who stepped on first to notch the double play, and Aaron Miles lined out softly to dampen the threat.
Wellemeyer allowed two unearned runs in the fourth, but then worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the sixth to depart with the lead.
"I put us in position to win, and unfortunately it didn't work out," Wellemeyer said. "I feel pretty bad for [Isringhausen]. It's been a rough couple last weeks, but he'll get through it. He's the best in the game."
Understandably, La Russa would not commit to a closer change after the game.
"What do you want me to do, make him feel worse than he already does?" La Russa said. "That's not our team's way of going about it. He feels worse than the fans do."
But is it something to talk about?
"Yeah," La Russa said. "He's not feeling great right now. He's very disappointed.
"We actually played an outstanding game," La Russa added "They scored two goofy runs ... and [Wellemeyer] was outstanding. That's probably why [Isringhausen] feels terrible. [Kyle] McClellan comes in and does his job, [Ryan] Franklin does his job. That's the life of a closer. Very difficult."
Isringhausen said the situation was not similar to 2006, when injuries played a role in his 10 blown saves.
"Now, I don't have an explanation. I'm pitching like a second-grader," he said.
"I'm sure we'll sleep on it tonight and I'll come in tomorrow and I'm sure we'll have a meeting. You lead the league in saves and blown saves ... it's not a whole lot of fun, especially when you're letting 25 guys down day in and day out."
It should have been a successful recipe for St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen, who barely broke a sweat retiring the first two men in the ninth inning of a one-run game.
Instead, it was an unlikely prequel to Milwaukee's dramatic rally, part of a 4-3 outcome that not only gave the Cardinals a three-game losing streak for the first time this season, but also put the back end of the bullpen in flux.
Rickie Weeks singled home the go-ahead runs, and the Brewers snapped a six-game losing streak at the expense of Isringhausen, who now has five blown saves, including back-to-back opportunities.
"It's just time for Tony [La Russa, manager], 'Dunc' [pitching coach Dave Duncan] and 'Mo' [general manager John Mozeliak] to figure out what to do," Isringhausen said. "Until I can get back on track or whatever the case might be, I'm sick of embarrassing myself and letting my team down."
Trying to shake off the residuals from a blown save two nights earlier, Isringhausen mowed through Corey Hart and Bill Hall on two pitches. But J.J. Hardy and Gabe Kapler followed with singles, and Jason Kendall walked to set up Weeks.
The second baseman, batting under .200 for most of the season, delivered a sharp liner to left.
"We should have five more wins in the win column, in my mind," Isringhausen said. "We should be out in first place even more. They can't keep sending me out there when I'm pitching the way I'm pitching. I'm going to have to figure out some kind of remedy. I'm sure that remedy will give me some time off from the role and get someone in there who can do a better job right now."
They were surprising words from a pitcher who said his ailments had nothing to do with physical health.
"I'm low 90's [in velocity], which is where I've been the last few years," he said. "I've got good bite on my breaking ball ... but when you're behind everybody ... my curveball is an out pitch, it's not a throw-for-a-strike pitch. I don't feel bad physically, so I know it's a mental thing."
Albert Pujols crushed a 450-foot home run in the first inning against Brewers starter Manny Parra, and St. Louis had a 3-0 lead after two, but the Cardinals never added on despite a golden opportunity for more in the second.
Pitcher Todd Wellemeyer helped his cause with a bases-loaded, no-out single, and Cesar Izturis walked to make it 3-0 before Milwaukee recorded an out in the second inning.
Skip Schumaker lined to first baseman Prince Fielder, who stepped on first to notch the double play, and Aaron Miles lined out softly to dampen the threat.
Wellemeyer allowed two unearned runs in the fourth, but then worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the sixth to depart with the lead.
"I put us in position to win, and unfortunately it didn't work out," Wellemeyer said. "I feel pretty bad for [Isringhausen]. It's been a rough couple last weeks, but he'll get through it. He's the best in the game."
Understandably, La Russa would not commit to a closer change after the game.
"What do you want me to do, make him feel worse than he already does?" La Russa said. "That's not our team's way of going about it. He feels worse than the fans do."
But is it something to talk about?
"Yeah," La Russa said. "He's not feeling great right now. He's very disappointed.
"We actually played an outstanding game," La Russa added "They scored two goofy runs ... and [Wellemeyer] was outstanding. That's probably why [Isringhausen] feels terrible. [Kyle] McClellan comes in and does his job, [Ryan] Franklin does his job. That's the life of a closer. Very difficult."
Isringhausen said the situation was not similar to 2006, when injuries played a role in his 10 blown saves.
"Now, I don't have an explanation. I'm pitching like a second-grader," he said.
"I'm sure we'll sleep on it tonight and I'll come in tomorrow and I'm sure we'll have a meeting. You lead the league in saves and blown saves ... it's not a whole lot of fun, especially when you're letting 25 guys down day in and day out."
Blowing the Game
Adam writes on last night's Cards-Brewers game, one in walk off fashion by the Brewers:
I was perusing the Cards-Brewers play-by-play to see how Isringhausen blew another save tonight and I noticed two things.
** 1 - The unwritten law that managers live by of going to their closer in save situations automatically. Even though Ryan Franklin went 1-2-3 in the 8th, retiring Cameron, Braun and Fielder (the 2-3-4 hitters) on 5 pitches, Larussa gives the ball to Izzy for the 9th, who promptly blew his 5th save and raised his ERA to 7.47.
** 2 - From Cameron's pop out to open the 8th inning thru Bill Hall's flyout for the 2nd out of the 9th, the Cardinals recorded 5 outs on 5 pitches. Each of the next 4 batters swung at and were retired on the first pitch. Seemed kind of odd, but who knows, maybe it happens all the time!!
Something I've talked about before is the more often a manager changes pitchers, the more likely he's going to find one having a bad day. If a reliever is brought in and pitches well, and hasn't reached a credible pitch limit, why not let him continue? Franklin did the heavy lifting, facing Cameron, Braun and Fielder in the eighth. The rest of the lineup should have been a bit easier. On top of that, Franklin is pitching better than Izzy this season. It's amazing to me that a manager who thinks outside the box on lineup construction is sticky to the conventional wisdom on relievers.
Not really. Tony invented the conventional wisdom with the Athletics, so why should he be wrong now.
I was perusing the Cards-Brewers play-by-play to see how Isringhausen blew another save tonight and I noticed two things.
** 1 - The unwritten law that managers live by of going to their closer in save situations automatically. Even though Ryan Franklin went 1-2-3 in the 8th, retiring Cameron, Braun and Fielder (the 2-3-4 hitters) on 5 pitches, Larussa gives the ball to Izzy for the 9th, who promptly blew his 5th save and raised his ERA to 7.47.
** 2 - From Cameron's pop out to open the 8th inning thru Bill Hall's flyout for the 2nd out of the 9th, the Cardinals recorded 5 outs on 5 pitches. Each of the next 4 batters swung at and were retired on the first pitch. Seemed kind of odd, but who knows, maybe it happens all the time!!
Something I've talked about before is the more often a manager changes pitchers, the more likely he's going to find one having a bad day. If a reliever is brought in and pitches well, and hasn't reached a credible pitch limit, why not let him continue? Franklin did the heavy lifting, facing Cameron, Braun and Fielder in the eighth. The rest of the lineup should have been a bit easier. On top of that, Franklin is pitching better than Izzy this season. It's amazing to me that a manager who thinks outside the box on lineup construction is sticky to the conventional wisdom on relievers.
Not really. Tony invented the conventional wisdom with the Athletics, so why should he be wrong now.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Cards not fazed by lost lead
DENVER -- It's been feast or famine for Cardinals relievers in Colorado, with the bullpen bailing out Joel Pineiro with six innings of one-run ball Monday, and starters Braden Looper and Adam Wainwright combining to throw 16 1/3 innings the next two nights, giving the 'pen some much-needed down time.
So when manager Tony La Russa pulled Wainright after seven shutout innings Wednesday, there was no second-guessing the manager's decision, even after his power trio of Kyle McClellan, Randy Flores and Jason Isringhausen combined to allow four runs on four hits and two walks in the eighth, handing Colorado its first win of the four-game series.
"He made the right decision," Wainwright said, noting the extra concern pitching in Denver's mile-high altitude can create for a pitcher. "It's tough for a starter to rebound after pitching up here in this atmosphere, we're not used to it. You have to make sure you hydrate like crazy just to get back and heal. I think it's important not to over work here. Braden did a great job saving our bullpen [Tuesday] night, so we had some guys down there that are extremely talented. We just got some bad breaks."
Those bad breaks are definitely an anomaly this season, as the Cardinals relievers lead the Majors with 31 holds. Setup man Ryan Franklin's 11 holds are tied with Arizona's Chad Qualls for baseball's best, and he and Flores have posted respective scoreless streaks of 7 2/3 and 7 1/3 innings, with each streak snapped in Colorado.
Furthermore, McClellan entered Wednesday leading all rookie pitchers with a 2.08 ERA, while ranking second in opponents' batting average against at .231 and sixth in strikeouts with 15.
And although Isringhausen is singled out in the box score with his fourth blown save, he still leads the league with 11 saves, maintaining his manager's confidence when the game is on the line. He had no misgivings about his outing, yielding a run on two hits and a walk while facing four batters in one-third of an inning.
"I'm not unhappy with the way I threw, I'm just unhappy with the results," Isringhausen said. "I come in there and just need to get an out. I got the ground ball I wanted, he just hit it in the hole. I'll throw that pitch every time and take my chances."
Rest assured, La Russa will continue to take his chances with a bullpen that has anchored the club as its last defense, posting an 18-1 record when leading after eight innings.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Kyle Lohse (3-1, 3.79 ERA)
Lohse had his worst start of the season in his last outing on Saturday, when the Cubs tagged him for eight earned runs on nine hits in six innings. He walked two batters and did not strike out anyone. The right-hander's ERA jumped from 2.36 after his first six starts to 3.79, which ranks third among the Cardinals' five starters. On the season, Lohse has struck out 14 and walked 10 in 40 1/3 innings of work. He's allowed 41 hits and opponents are batting .315 against him.
COL: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (0-1, 20.25 ERA)
De La Rosa had a rough outing in his season debut Saturday against the Dodgers, equaling a career high with nine runs on nine hits and three walks in four-plus innings. He got some bad breaks as he gave up six runs in the first two innings, but he struggled with fastball command, and his slider and curve were ineffective, leaving only his changeup as a go-to pitch. He retired nine of 10 batters after the first six runs, but he couldn't record an out in the fifth inning, departing after a three-run homer on a hanging slider.
Tidbits
Albert Pujols' seventh-inning single Wednesday extended his season-opening streak to 35 games reaching base safely. Though clear records for on-base streaks are hard to document, Ted Williams reached safely in 65 games to open the 1948 season. ... Ryan Ludwick has a seven-game hitting streak, hitting .550 (11-for-20) in that span. He is 7-for-9 (.778) against the Rockies this week, collecting his fifth home run to leadoff the fifth. ... After collecting 11 extra-base hits in the first two games of the series, the Cardinals were held to one on Wednesday, the Ludwick solo homer. ... Rick Ankiel leads the Majors with seven game-winning RBIs, the most recent one coming Tuesday in Colorado. ... Wainwright's 0-for-3 night at the plate ended a stretch of three straight games with the Cardinals pitchers hitting safely, going 4-for-7 (.571) with three RBIs from Sunday to Tuesday.
So when manager Tony La Russa pulled Wainright after seven shutout innings Wednesday, there was no second-guessing the manager's decision, even after his power trio of Kyle McClellan, Randy Flores and Jason Isringhausen combined to allow four runs on four hits and two walks in the eighth, handing Colorado its first win of the four-game series.
"He made the right decision," Wainwright said, noting the extra concern pitching in Denver's mile-high altitude can create for a pitcher. "It's tough for a starter to rebound after pitching up here in this atmosphere, we're not used to it. You have to make sure you hydrate like crazy just to get back and heal. I think it's important not to over work here. Braden did a great job saving our bullpen [Tuesday] night, so we had some guys down there that are extremely talented. We just got some bad breaks."
Those bad breaks are definitely an anomaly this season, as the Cardinals relievers lead the Majors with 31 holds. Setup man Ryan Franklin's 11 holds are tied with Arizona's Chad Qualls for baseball's best, and he and Flores have posted respective scoreless streaks of 7 2/3 and 7 1/3 innings, with each streak snapped in Colorado.
Furthermore, McClellan entered Wednesday leading all rookie pitchers with a 2.08 ERA, while ranking second in opponents' batting average against at .231 and sixth in strikeouts with 15.
And although Isringhausen is singled out in the box score with his fourth blown save, he still leads the league with 11 saves, maintaining his manager's confidence when the game is on the line. He had no misgivings about his outing, yielding a run on two hits and a walk while facing four batters in one-third of an inning.
"I'm not unhappy with the way I threw, I'm just unhappy with the results," Isringhausen said. "I come in there and just need to get an out. I got the ground ball I wanted, he just hit it in the hole. I'll throw that pitch every time and take my chances."
Rest assured, La Russa will continue to take his chances with a bullpen that has anchored the club as its last defense, posting an 18-1 record when leading after eight innings.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Kyle Lohse (3-1, 3.79 ERA)
Lohse had his worst start of the season in his last outing on Saturday, when the Cubs tagged him for eight earned runs on nine hits in six innings. He walked two batters and did not strike out anyone. The right-hander's ERA jumped from 2.36 after his first six starts to 3.79, which ranks third among the Cardinals' five starters. On the season, Lohse has struck out 14 and walked 10 in 40 1/3 innings of work. He's allowed 41 hits and opponents are batting .315 against him.
COL: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (0-1, 20.25 ERA)
De La Rosa had a rough outing in his season debut Saturday against the Dodgers, equaling a career high with nine runs on nine hits and three walks in four-plus innings. He got some bad breaks as he gave up six runs in the first two innings, but he struggled with fastball command, and his slider and curve were ineffective, leaving only his changeup as a go-to pitch. He retired nine of 10 batters after the first six runs, but he couldn't record an out in the fifth inning, departing after a three-run homer on a hanging slider.
Tidbits
Albert Pujols' seventh-inning single Wednesday extended his season-opening streak to 35 games reaching base safely. Though clear records for on-base streaks are hard to document, Ted Williams reached safely in 65 games to open the 1948 season. ... Ryan Ludwick has a seven-game hitting streak, hitting .550 (11-for-20) in that span. He is 7-for-9 (.778) against the Rockies this week, collecting his fifth home run to leadoff the fifth. ... After collecting 11 extra-base hits in the first two games of the series, the Cardinals were held to one on Wednesday, the Ludwick solo homer. ... Rick Ankiel leads the Majors with seven game-winning RBIs, the most recent one coming Tuesday in Colorado. ... Wainwright's 0-for-3 night at the plate ended a stretch of three straight games with the Cardinals pitchers hitting safely, going 4-for-7 (.571) with three RBIs from Sunday to Tuesday.
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