Cardinals' Struggles Continue

Kyle Lohse, who had recently been suffering from forearm tightness, left after two innings of work with that same injury. Only now, the effects could be lasting a while.

Lohse, who gave up one earned, appeared to be missing high, and his last pitch nearly flew over the head of catcher Yadier Molina. Blaine Boyer relieved Lohse, and worked five innings.

Boyer allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk.

Laynce Nix struck first for the Reds, hitting a towering 414 feet home run in the second inning. He later homered again off Chris Perez in the eighth. Brandon Phillips also went yard in the ninth off lefty Trever Miller.

The Cardinal lineup did just the opposite of that of the Reds. They did record ten hits, but didn't get it done when it mattered. The Redbirds left eight runners in scoring position; a number similar to all of May.

Blake's Take

As much as everyone wants to worry about the bats in the lineup, that worry should be behind the potential disabled list stint that Kyle Lohse could go on. Surely, if Lohse couldn't get tonight's start finished, he wouldn't be ready to go the next 4-5 days.

Solution

Tom Glavine. Face it, the Cards are in need of a Major League arm. Even if he does throw 70 MPH, his stuff is good; it always has been. Glavine recently announced himself ready for Major League action, and, yet, the Braves still released him. The current problem for the Cardinals is the starting rotation, the future problem is, no doubt, adding another bat to this woeful lineup.

I mentioned in my Daily Dose this afternoon the four main candidates for the third base role of the Redbirds. Mark DeRosa, Garrett Atkins, Adrian Beltre, and Melvin Mora. DeRosa appears to be the logical choice. Atkins has seen a vast decrease in his numbers since his career season in 2006. Adrian Beltre would be out of the cap space of owner Bill DeWitt unless the Mariners ate up some of that $13 million. And Melvin Mora turns 38 next February; his days are numbered.

All in all, the reason for the Cards' struggles tonight had to be the fact Kyle Lohse lasted just two innings. You just can't rely on a bullpen for seven innings of work (although the Reds did just that Tuesday night)—especially the Cardinals' inconsistent bullpen.