Ok, the title is a little bit lame…but who knows? Maybe it will catch on. Skip Shumaker was the extra-innings hero with a 2-run shot in the 11th inning to mask Jason Isrinhausen’s 3rd blown save of the year and send the Cards home winners in the 1st game of their series against division-rival Chicago, 5-3.
Oddly enough, the only St. Louis hitters to have multiple hits on the day were Yadier Molina and Brendan Ryan, who each went 2-4. Ryan had an RBI and Molina knocked home 2 runs. Albert Pujols was 1-3 with 2 walks (1 intentional) and leads baseball with 32 walks and 9 intentional walks on the year. Pujols has reached safely in all 30 games this year. Adam Wainwright pitched well, giving up only 1 run on 4 hits through 6 1/3 innings. Cubs starter Rich Hill, on the other hand, walked 4 batters and allowed a run before getting yanked 2 outs into the 1st inning. Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he would probably be replaced in the Cubs’ rotation.
These two teams will get back at it this afternoon at 2:45 pm (Central time). Kyle Lohse (3-0, 2.36 ERA) will try to keep his perfect record rolling against another soft-tossing Chicago lefty, Ted Lilly (1-4, 6.46 ERA).
