This is the Cardinals we all have gotten used to the past few years. On Friday, we got it all. Albert Pujols went deep and Mark Mulder had a nice start. Mulder gave up three runs on five hits with five strikeouts in eight innings. Pujols went two for five with four RBIs. It was also nice to see Jim Edmonds homer again after missing a few starts. All nine Cardinal runs were scored by each of the nine starters.
Saturday was just as good. Albert Pujols drove in two of the Cardinals four runs and Sidney Ponson did his best Chris Carpenter imitation. Ponons gave up a single run on six hits and four walks. The pen was phenomonal. Adam Wainwright, Brandon Looper and Jason Isringhausen combined to throw four perfect innings.
Yesterday, the Cardinals couldn’t finish up the sweep. Greg Maddux is putting up numbers like he did ten years ago, and Sunday was no differently. It also didn’t help that Jason Marquis was roughed up. He gave up seven runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks in six innings. Backup catcher Gary Bennett drove in two runs and Scot Rolen went three for three.
As it stands, the Cardinals are two games back of first place Houston and they’re a half game back of second place Cincinnati (huh?). The last place Pirates come to town so anything less then two of three will cost the Cardinals. As usual, a sweep would be nice.
