Cards Walk Away From Potential Misery

Let’s get right to the interesting stuff, shall we?

Trevor Rosenthal came into the game Monday night protecting a one run lead and a collective groan took over Busch Stadium. “Noooo, not him again!” Well, Rosie didn’t disappoint. He struck out a pinch hitter, walked another, and gave up a double to blow a 5-4 lead. The box score will tell you that. If you watched the game, one would notice that Rosenthal pitched better than he had his previous two outings. He simply picked the wrong man to walk and that is Billy Hamilton. The speedster seems to reach second base the minute he leaves the box. He walked with one out, and advanced to third on a stolen base attempt and errant throw by Cards catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Jay Bruce doubled past a drawn in Matt Adams and it was 5-5. But…keep all of this in mind.

*Rosenthal escaped the inning without allowing further damage. He had Bruce at second with one out and coaxed outs from the next two hitters.

*He walked Hamilton but ball four was close. “A little high” as Rosenthal put it after the game.

*Rosenthal didn’t look hopelessly erratic out there. It was a more polished outing than the last two.

*If Adams isn’t drawn in, he may stop Bruce’s hard hit grounder from escaping the infield. You never know.

In the end, Rosenthal blew a save(unlike the previous two bad outings) and his 36/41 is still solid and he stays in the closer spot. After a further look, his arm isn’t dead or sore. He just walked the wrong guy. Hamilton makes everybody uncomfortable. He has learned how to hit and he can draw a walk.  It’s a tough break for Rosenthal and the Cards.

After that breakdown, the Cards rallied in the bottom of the 10th. Matt Holliday singled(two hit game for the big guy). Adams singled to send Holliday to third. Jhonny Peralta then cranked a game winning single over Ryan Ludwick’s head in left. Cards walked off with a 6-5 win and their 5th win in their last 6 games.

A few notes on the game-

*Peralta has been a pleasant surprise. He has a WAR of 4.6, and his defensive runs saved is just about as high. Peralta has 16 home runs, 55 RBI and his average is rising at .266. He has been everything I asked for at shortstop. People can clamor for Tulo all they want but Peralta has shored up the gap at shortstop.

*Adams had another big night. He recorded his fourth multi-hit game in his last 5 games and drove in a run. Adams is cranking up the power stroke again and also adds painfully underrated defense at first base. If you listen to any outside St. Louis broadcast, Adams can’t make a great play without being labeled “a big guy” who shouldn’t be able to play first that well. Well, he is making plays that skinnier first basemen(like Garrett Jones) can not. Future Gold Glove over there.

*Justin Masterson is a troubling pitcher and painfully similar to Jake Westbrook. A sinker ball pitcher who depends heavily on that one pitch to be effective. Unlike Adam Wainwright, who can hurt you with four different pitches, Masterson needs that key pitch. He had troubled with walks last night and gave up a game changing home run to Bruce in the 5th. So far, three rough outings and one very good one.  He isn’t eating that many innings either.

By the way, let’s be careful with Bruce. He strikes out a ton but he also hits a lot of baseballs hard. He is the threat in this lineup.

Tonight, John Lackey goes for his third win as a Cardinal against Alfredo Simon of the Reds. There’s something about Lackey on a mound that makes me feel comfortable. It could be that Chris Carpenter type presence that he projects. “I got this and there’s no need to worry.”

Thanks for reading and come back for more on Twitter, @buffa82.