For a guy who went 2-14 in 2007 and wasn’t even supposed to make the Cardinals’ roster coming out of Spring Training, Anthony Reyes pitched a heck of a game in relief of Brad Thompson-the man who beat him out for the final spot in the starting rotation-to help the Cards to a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park Tuesday night.
The Cardinals displayed a slow and steady version of their offense against Astros starter Shawn Chacon, with Thompson driving in a run on a bases-leaded sacrifice bunt in the second and Skip Shumaker tripling and scoring on a Chris Duncan sacrifice fly in the third to put the Cards up 2-0. Thompson lasted only four innings but, in his defense, was lights-out for three of them. Unfortunately, he came apart a little bit in the 3rd frame. Lance Berkman doubled in the bottom of the 3rd, then Thompson walked Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada drove them both in with a double and took third on the throw home. He would later score on a wild pitch from Thompson, who recovered in the 4th inning but had 87 pitches and, with manager Tony LaRussa having the chance to pinch hit him in the top of the 5th, was taken out in favor of Reyes. Reyes responded by putting down the first eight batters he faced before allowing a Hunter Pence triple in the 7th. Reyes retired Berkman to end the inning and Troy Glaus’ two-run double in the top of the 8th gave the Cards the lead. Ryan Franklin and Jason Isringhausen shut down the next six batters to give Reyes his first career win in relief.
No Cardinal hitters were able to muster up multiple hits on the night, through Adam Kennedy was 1-2 with 2 BB’s and an RBI hitting from the 6th spot in the order. Jason Isrinhausen earned his 4th save of the year and Albert Pujols was 1-4 with a run scored, putting his average at .320 for the year. Braden Looper (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will take the hill for St. Louis tonight as they try to close out another series win tonight at 7:05 (Central time) against Houston righty Chris Sampson (0-0, 2.70 ERA).
