Eat me in St. Louis. Reds lose, 3-0.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Brandon Phillips.  In a game after which Yadier Molina said, "That's the way you have to play, you have to have fun," the award is given to the Red who has the most fun.  He also hit two doubles, and no one else did much of anything.  Honorable mentions go to Joey Votto and Nick Masset.

Key Plays

• It has to be said that Tony La Russa made all the right moves in this series.  He decided to start Jake Westbrook on three days rest for the first time in his career, and Westbrook - who had been awful in his previous starts - repaid that decision by holding the Reds scoreless and scattering only three hits.
• Edinson Volquez got the start instead of Sam LeCure, and also had a good outing.  He held the Cardinals scoreless through five innings, overcoming his first inning nightmares and struck out seven in the first four innings.
• In the sixth inning, however, Volquez began to tire.  He got Albert Pujols to pop out, but Matt Holliday hit a double.  Volquez intentionally walked the hot-hitting Lance Berkman, and got Daniel Descalso to foul out.  Unfortunately, Yadier Molina then hit a home run, and that was all the scoring for the game.  Cardinals win, 3-0.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Albert Pujols tweaked his hamstring in the seventh inning and left the game.
• The Reds have lost 9 of 11 and were held scoreless for the first time this season.  The Cardinals are in first place and the wire to wire dream is in ashes.
• The Cardinals are 11-0-1 in home series against the Reds since 2006.  I hate them.