Cardinals Battle To The Top

Let's take a look at the game first, then we can come back to the early scrum that developed.  It was great to see the Cardinals continue to answer any punches (yes, still talking about the game) that the Reds threw.  The Reds tie it at 2, quickly the Cards get a few more.  The Reds cut the lead to one, immediately the Redbirds get three more.

Matt Holliday had a huge game, capped off by that bases-clearing double.  Everyone contributed something, though, as all the starters (save Skip Schumaker) had a hit.  Which is what you want to see--and about time, as well.  The consensus has been that this team could take off if everyone got into the groove at the same time.  At least for the last two nights, that's been the case.

Jaime Garcia did well, though had some issues with his control.  I don't know if he was being more cautious, knowing that it is a small ballpark, or he is starting to wear down a bit as the season gets into its final stretches.  Without the walks, he probably could have gotten into the seventh, and perhaps the final two runs for the Reds wouldn't have scored.

Speaking of, why was Fernando Salas pitching around Jim Edmonds?  There are two outs and two on.  If he hits it out, he ties up the ball game, but did they really think that it was a strong possibility?  With bases loaded and two out, a hit is going to score two and a walk brings in a run.  The Cards were able to get a runner at second to end the threat, but if they hadn't, they'd have had two on, two out and a one-run lead with the Reds getting the momentum.  I'd have rather see them attack Edmonds, but perhaps there was more than what appeared on the surface.

Kudos also to Yadier Molina, who pulled off the unthoughtof combination (for him) of home run and stolen base in the same game.  Toss in brawl-starter and you are looking at a Triple Crown day.

Sometimes Cardinal Nation wonders what it takes to lead SportsCenter or Baseball Tonight.  Now we know--a fight in the middle of a tight pennant race.  I can't blame Molina for telling Brandon Phillips off, because words have consequences.  Don't insult a team, then go up to them and pretend nothing happened.  It's not going to work.

It was strange seeing Scott Rolen go after some of his former teammates, but 1) Rolen's a team guy and he'll defend his teammates, whether they are right or not and 2) both he and Chris Carpenter indicated that instead of Rolen fighting Carpenter, he was doing more to get him out of the scrum, and it did look like that on TV.  I also appreciated seeing numerous players, including Schumaker, trying to protect Carpenter from getting hurt.  I didn't see Adam Wainwright in the mix, so Carpenter was the most valuable person out there (assuming Albert was on the fringes).

I don't think we'll see any more of that in the afternoon meeting between these two teams.  If for nothing else, they'll be playing in an excessive heat warning, so that will probably sap any extra energy the players may have.  (Off-topic, what constitutes an "excessive heat warning"?  Looks like heat index of 105, which is bad, but the air temp here today is supposed to be 101, and all we get is a heat advisory.  All about what you are used to, I guess.)

Also good to know that Carpenter and Brendan Ryan have patched things up.  Sounds like Ryan really is a little kid out there at times.  CDD breathes a sigh of relief.

A few things that came to my mailbox while I was gone:

*Joe from The McBrayer-Baseball Blog had an interview with the media/promotions guy of the Durham Bulls.  Check that out when you've got the time!

*Reading Redbirds, one of the early UCB blogs that had gone dark for a while, has made its return to the blogosphere.  Which means I'll need to update the Definitive Guide pretty soon!

As noted above, the Cardinals finish out this set with the Reds this afternoon at 11:35 Central.  Adam Wainwright goes for the sweep, only the second three-gamer of the year (following last week's Pittsburgh series).  Bronson Arroyo goes for the Reds and he's been tough in the past against St. Louis, though they were able to get to him in the Memorial Day game.  You can follow the action with the live chat over at Fox Sports Midwest!