Take yourself inside the clubhouse before Sunday night's game. Larry Rothschild approaches Jason Marquis' locker to discuss the game plan. "I was just talking with Lou, and we decided we aren't going to let Adam Kennedy beat us," Rothschild explains. "This guy is a career .276 hitter and we aren't going to take any chances. Pitch around him and get to Pujols. Lifetime he is only 4 of 16 against you and those are all singles."
That discussion couldn't have happened, could it? That was the result however. Adam Kennedy was walked in the first, as were two other Cards to load the bases. Marquis better buy D Lee a steak dinner or more for preventing that inning blowing up, or else he is on the bus with Rich Hill. After the Kennedy walk, Marquis strikes out Pujols. I love it when a plan comes together.
Then in the second...if Pujols is hitting twice in the first two innings things can't be going well...Kennedy singles to tie the game at two. We knew this guy could kill us. Pujols hits into a double play to end the inning. Marquis owns this guy!
Fast forward...not too far forward, remember we aren't mowing them down...to the fourth inning. Izturis is on second with two outs. The ever dangerous Adam Kennedy at the plate. Marquis glances to the dugout where Rothschild signals not to let this guy hurt us. Marquis issues the unintentional intentional walk. Now we can handle Pujols. Here is where the plan falls apart. Pujols doubles scoring not only Izturis but Kennedy too.
That proved to be the difference. Each team tacked on another run...St. Louis' driven in by Kennedy, this guy really did kill us tonight....but the two run lead prevailed.
The Cubs third run came in the seventh when they loaded the bases with no one out. Cedeno was hit by a pitch, Soriano and Theriot followed with singles. Unfortunately for the Cubs, D Lee and DeRosa (separated by a sac fly from Kosuke) continued their woeful night. Neither one got a hit all night and this inning would have been a nice time to break out.
That was it for the Cubs. Ryan Franklin and Jason Isringhausen mowed down the last six Cubs in order to take the series two games to one.
Monday, May 5, 2008
5/4/08 @ Cardinals; L 3-5; (18-13)
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1 comment:
When Marquis walked Kennedy with two outs to extend the inning to Pujols I went into a blind rage. That's absolutely pathetic to not be able to throw a strike for a major league pitcher. Unacceptable. Our offense can only carry this team for so long, as evidenced by "only" scoring three runs last night.
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