Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Ryan Ludwick. The man went 3-4 with a game winning two-run homer. Honorable mentions go to Jonny Gomes, Drew Stubbs, and Jaime Garcia.
Key Plays
- In the third inning with one out, Ryan Ludwick singled and Albert Pujols did what Albert Pujols does - gives out souvenir baseballs to kids in the outfield seats. It's easy to say they should have pitched around him, and maybe Harang should have. However, he also gave up hits to the next two batters before ending the inning with a double play. It's safe to say that whether he challenged Pujols or worked around him, he didn't have the best stuff that inning. Cardinals lead, 2-0.
- Harang gave up a double to Colby Rasmus to start the fifth inning, but then gave up a home run to Ludwick. But then he recovered nicely and struck out Pujols and Matt Holliday. Still, damage done. Cardinals lead, 4-0.
- The Reds hadn't shown much life against Jaime Garcia, a rookie who's pitching every bit as well as Mike Leake. However, as his evening wore on, his effectiveness began to wane. In the seventh inning, Jonny Gomes doubled and Drew Stubbs flashed some of his light tower power by mashing his fourth home run of the year over the centerfield wall. Cardinals lead, 4-2.
- A furious rally in the ninth inning ended up coming to naught. Jonny Gomes led off and got a single, then took second base on defensive indifference. Jay Bruce dropped a flare into center to get runners on the corners with no outs. Drew Stubbs grounded out, but picked up his third RBI of the game by getting Gomes home. Ryan Hanigan singled to put runners on first and second with one out, when unfortunately pinch hitter Ramon Hernandez grounded into the 6-4-3 double play. A sudden and wrenching stop to the rally, the game, and our winning streak. Cardinals win, 4-3.
Other Notes
- Don't look now, but Mike Lincoln's ERA is 2.77. Is it possible that his two year extension goes from a poor move by Walt Jocketty to a surprisingly effective one?
- Jaime Garcia hasn't given up more than two runs in a game yet. He's one start away from matching Fernando Valenzuela's string of eight starts with two runs or less and six innings pitched or more. Drew Stubbs's homer was the first he's allowed.
- Pujols hadn't homered since April 25, but when he did, it broke a streak of 21 scoreless innings from Reds pitchers. It's not much of a surprise that the Cardinals broke that streak. They have 87 home runs at GABP, the second most by any opponent. The Cubs have 88.