Astros at Cardinals, 4/12/2010
Cardinals 5, Astros 0
W: Wainwright (2-0) L: Rodriguez (0-2)
HR: Pujols (5)
Oh, it started with so much promise. Bourn beats out an infield single, beats a perfect Squatting Molina throw, and the Good Guys are set up for shop in just the second hitter.
That was it. That was the high point. Mazella couldn’t move him over, and Pence and Lee provided their now-standard failure to deliver, and off we went to the bottom of the first…
…wherein Wandy gave up three straight singles, the last of which would easily score the lead runner. Of course, Ryan Ludwick somehow failed to realize this – even with the play in front of him, in Lee’s hands – and ran straight into a rundown (for once, decently executed by the Astros, although Pujols did move up). This miscue allowed Wandy to get out of the first without further damamge.
So along comes the bottom of the third, and the Cardinals again put two men on for Pujols. At this point, someone in the Fox production truck decides to put the following up:
Obviously these fine producers are either Cardinal fans, or completely unfamiliar with the concept of the BBGs. Either way, you will note that the count is 1-0; Pujols deposited the 1-0 pitch (a nice, fat, middle-plate curve) into the LF bullpen, and the game was effectively over.
In the GZ, the following were observed:
– The Astros are drawing less than 1 walk per game;
– Only 3 Astros in Monday’s lineup sported a batting average of above .200;
– Only Pence’s meaningless ninth inning single pulled his batting average above the legal blood-alcohol limit.
Both teams get an off day before a Wednesday date on ESPN.