Cardinals-Padres: The Redbirds Take Another Series With 11-3 Win

Before I start writing about the Cardinals, my thoughts go out to the Young family, as it looks like pitcher Chris may have a lacerated nose.

Young was hit straight in the nose by a liner off the bat of Albert Pujols in the third inning. Additionally, Padres catcher Josh Bard was injured on a slide home by Pujols later in the contest.

Good

Skip Schumaker went four for five tonight with two runs scored.  More impressively, however, was his defense. He dove and caught a ball on the warning track for the night's top web gem.

Troy Glaus went two for four, which isn't shabby at all. Tack on three RBI, and that's pretty superb. Additionally, Glaus made some tough plays on hard-hit balls to third to preserve the lead. He is hitting .280 after hovering around the .230 mark for the first part of the season.

As good as Schumaker has been lately, it's damn good to see Rick Ankiel back.  To top off his return, Ankiel hit the first pinch-hit HR of his career in the eighth inning.

Bad

Albert Pujols is one for nine in the series so far, including a one for five game tonight. That just isn't cutting it. Granted, he is still hitting .351, but Pujols is hoping to get back on track on Friday against the Dodgers.

Brendan Ryan made some really snazzy plays at short tonight, but 0-for-4 at the plate is pitiful. It turned out not to hurt the Cards, but they must get some production out of the bottom of the lineup, and getting Ryan going would certainly help the cause.

Eh, So-So

Braden Looper's three earned runs over five innings isn't ideal, but the Cards will take it tonight.  Throwing 92 pitches in five innings is troubling, LaRussa stated.  But lo and behold, he picked up the all-important W.

Kyle McClellan gave up two hits and had another ball lifted deep in the park, but he pitched an inning and gave up no runs.  KM still has the most holds in baseball.

Pretty Decent

Aaron Miles had a three for six day, which for the little fella is solid.  The club will definitely take those types of numbers from Miles any day.

It was nice to get Ryan Franklin some work, even though he didn't need to save the ballgame.  He hadn't pitched since Saturday, so a perfect ninth with a strikeout was good to see.

Brian Barton only pinch-hit tonight, but seeing him get out of an awful slump was nice.  Barton hit a single while batting for Looper in the sixth.