Well, this was the match-up that I pegged to be interesting and it didn't disappoint. Breaking down the starting pitch match-up indicated that the deciding factor in the game was going to be the defense backing the pitchers, and the Astros did not disappoint.
Moehler, however, was as dominant as I have seen him. JD was thoroughly impressed with his effective mixing of pitches and it showed with the Cardinals hitters staying unbalance for Moehler's 6.1 IP.
So onto the positives:
- Brian Moehler's line: 6.1IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 5K, 2BB, 10GB, and 7FB on 100 pitches (64 strikes). His 7.11 K/9 and lopsided GB/FB ratio pretty much tell the story of Moehler's stellar outing, for himself.
- Carlos Lee saved Lance Berkman's strained calf by allow Lance to trot home on his fourth inning three run blast (seeing how tender Berkman was all night has me concerned, though).
- Michael Bourn's catch on Tal's Hill in the bottom of the first. It won't make any highlight reels, but watch that ball blast off Albert Pujols' bat...just the sheer relief of watching Bourn field it makes it an amazing grab.
- (see photo above)
- Wesley Wright's 3-1 on what should have been a 3 unassisted.
- Ivan Rodriguez gunning down Pujols in the bottom of the 8th.
- Kazuo Matsui, Miguel Tejada, and Lance Berkman's 4-6-3 to bail out Jose Valverde in the bottom of the ninth.
- The Cubs losing 10-1 in Philly and the fact that the Brewers are currently losing 7-2 at the time of me typing in the bottom of sixth at Pittsburgh.
- The fact that we're a winning baseball team again and the Chris Carpenter vs. Roy Oswalt match-up is now guaranteed to have something riding on it.
Cardinals vs Astros boxscore ; Cardinals vs Astros coverage ; Viva El Birdos
Footer via Twitter
Doug Brocail’s line at Triple-A Round Rock: 1 IP, no hits, runs or walks. One K. 14 pitches, 9 for strikes.
Stephen Higdon - July 20, 2009
One thing I was surprised to see in this game was how little Valverde went to his heater. Threw a lot of pitches in the mid-80’s.
AstroAndy - July 20, 2009
it’s good to see Valverde using his splitter effectively. Late last season, Valverde didn’t seem to trust his splitter, and he got away from using it. In the long term, the threat of the splitter will help him be more dominant.
clack - July 21, 2009
Ominously bad news
Lance Berkman to undergo MRI on his left calf Tuesday. He played all 9 innings Monday, but only because he refused to come out in 1st inning
Justice, via Twitter.
Stephen Higdon - July 20, 2009
That's scary - either way he could be hampered for weeks
This from Richard Justice Chronicle blog:
‘’If I can go, I’m going to go,‘’ Berkman said. ’’It’s the legacy of Bagwell and Biggio. Those two guys played with all kinds of injuries, but if they could walk, they played. When I saw Bagwell in Los Angeles, I thought, ‘Hey, I have to be in there. I don’t want to let him down.‘’’
Joe in Birmingham - July 21, 2009
Pirates-Brewers game apparently was interesting.
In the previous series between these two teams, Pirates pitcher Jeff Karsten hit Ryan Braun, who became so incensed that he made a velled threat of retalation, saying, “tell Mr. Selig we will see what happens.” Braun thought that he was hit because of a HR he hit in the previous inning. Karsten came up to bat in Monday’s game and was hit by the Brewers. Karsten was ready to go after the pitcher but was held back by Brewers catcher Jason Kendall, who was jawing with him at the same time. The benches emptied and Kendall and Pirates’ pitching coach Kerrigan had to be restrained from going at it with each other. Braun hit a key HR in a 3 run Brewers’ rally in the 9th, which turned a blow out into a closer game than the Pirates wanted.
clack - July 21, 2009
I saw it on MLB.TV
I thought Kendall was – shall we say- overly assertive in pushing a semi-confused Karstens to first.
Early on Prince Fielder tried to pull Kendall back.
Karstens was taken out of the game as an injury situaton (though I don’t think he was seriously injured).
Kendall was still very angry after the field was cleared.
The TV guys knew the history of the event. Apparenty the umpires didn’t.
Once the umpires took control, all the players (except Kendall) calmly walked back to their respective places -it was stunning how quickly all was forgotten.
Best part of it – Astros & Brewers tied in the standing again.
Joe in Birmingham - July 21, 2009
Karstens was being stupid
ol Pete - July 21, 2009
Ahh
Carpenter versus Oswalt. I love this matchup.
jonthefon - July 21, 2009
It’s going to be good!
Killer Bee - July 21, 2009
The Moehler-Lohse game
There was something that felt different about it, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. But I think Richard Justice comes close with this line from today’s profile on Lee:
AstroAndy - July 21, 2009
I think the umpire's strike zone also played a role
Campbell really was liberal on the low strike tonight. Moehler saw this and exploited it early. Lohse couldn’t quite hit it consistently.
formerlyanonymous - July 21, 2009
Definitely
The low strike has been available in just about every game since the break. It’s weird.
Stephen Higdon - July 21, 2009
Tejada's flying dive
Add to DQ’s list: Miguel Tejada’s flying diving catch of a screamer late in the game.
Joe in Birmingham - July 21, 2009
Oh- It's the photograph
I just noticed, the play is the subject of the photograph at the top of this thread
Joe in Birmingham - July 21, 2009
Sorry
I tried to get creative with the AP photo.
Amazing stop.
Stephen Higdon - July 21, 2009
I like the photograph
(and the catch)
Joe in Birmingham - July 21, 2009
the Pujols FB out in the first wasn't anything special
just a long out and I don’t remember it making Tal’s Hill. The Ludwick shot in the 5th I think after they IBB’d Pujols was a lot more scary.
lnewcomer - July 21, 2009
You're correct
I confused the two.
Stephen Higdon - July 21, 2009
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