The Cards found themselves down 3-0 in the 7th inning and were being completely dominated by Astros’ starter Wandy Rodriguez in the final game of their series in Houston when the offense managed to manufacture 5 runs on just 2 hits (both singles) to take the lead. The bullpen gave up a run in the bottom half of the frame, but the offense had done enough to secure a 5-4 win, Kyle Lohse’s 7th win of the year. Ryan Franklin struck out the side in the 9th to earn his 8th save of the year.
The Cardinals looked to be building off their momentum from the Astros series as they opened up a series against the Cinncincatti Reds. Rookie Mitchell Boggs gave up 2 runs on 4 hits over 5 innings in his first big league start and Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel hit back-to-back home runs in the 3rd inning. Ryan Ludwick added a solo shot in the 7th and collected 4 RBI on the day to punctuate a 7-2 win. That win would come at a cost, however. Albert Pujols went down with a strained calf in the 7th inning, an injury which has been hampering him for a few weeks now, and will probably be put on the DL. He joins pitcher Adam Wainwright, who was put on the 15 day DL recently with his finger issue, as an injured Cardinals superstar. If Pujols is indeed put on the DL, the Cards will probably call up Chris Duncan to fill his slot at 1st base, although he has been struggling since his demotion to AAA Memphis, hitting under .200 with no home runs. The good news is that Joel Pineiro is off the DL and is set to start Thursday against the Reds, and Todd Wellemeyer is healthy and should be ready to pitch, but it is always a tough blow to lose your best hitter and pitcher in the same week, especially when you are trying to keep pace with the red-hot Chicago Cubs.
The Cards will try to keep in together tonight at 6:10pm (Central time) as Braden Looper (7-5, 4.86 ERA) faces off against Reds’ righty Johnny Cueto (5-5, 5.06 ERA).
