Both pitchers struggled somewhat with their control in the 1st. Biggio and Taveras worked Carpenter, Biggio going to 3-2 before grounding a shot at Rolen who knocked it down, and if he hadn?t been sick for 2 weeks would have thrown out Biggio. But he was safe at first. Taveras followed with a walk on a 3-2 count but Berkman grounded 4-6-3, and Ensberg struck out.
In the 2nd Pettitte ran into some more trouble. Encarnacion singled to the left of a leg locked Biggio. Then Rolen bounced to the left of Biggio who bobbled and was only able to get the runner at second. Edmonds then lines a single to right that puts runners on the corners. Pettitte hits Molina. So the bases are loaded and Taguchi is up, one out. Greg Lucas interjects ?small sample size, but, Taguchi has grounded into 4 double plays, more than any other Cardinal, could it be number 5? Double down the left field line scores 2. Thang Q! Helpy Helperton?.2-0
Pettitte continues to get into trouble in the 3rd. Encarnacion singles, Rolen doubles, wasn?t he supposed to be sick? Runners 2nd, 3rd, two outs, Edmonds up. Pettitte is now moving his lips and mumbling into his glove. But the Glove Whisperer gets Edmonds to pop to center.
In the 4th Carpenter, on a 2-2 count, hits the lead off Taveras. Then the best hitter on the field, Berkman, goes opposite field, bounces a homer right above the yellow line above the visitors? bullpen. Score is 2-2.
The Astros take the lead in the 5th. With one out, Everett threads a double down the 3b line, it bounces off Dumbass Cove, but, no one even tries to touch it. Taguchi made the play interesting by hustling, grabbing the skip and flinging cross body to second just missing Everett diving in head first. Pettitte walks, and Biggio flails at a strike 3 slider. Wily is up, works the count 3-2, he wore out Carpenter all night, and singles through the hole scoring Everett. 3-2.
More scoring in the 6th Ensberg starts the inning with a double, Wilson moves him over fly ball to right, and with the infield in, Lane drops a pop in short right, 4-2.
The Cardinals get one back in the 7th. Molina starts the inning with a single. Then Taguchi scorches a grounder to Everett's right, one step and he lays out, gloves the ball, pops up and gets Molina at second. Taguchi, at first goes on first move and takes second uncontested. With 2 outs Eckstein lines a single to center, Taveras, charging hard, boxes the bounce and Taguchi scores without a throw. 3-2. The Q comes in and gets Luna to bounce to 2nd for the 3rd out.
Dot takes the 8th. His fastball had good movement, slider darting and in spite of Rolen singling, really, wasn?t he sick? and Gallo warming up, he had such good stuff they left him in to K Edmonds on a slider low to end the inning.
Fuck?em had the 9th. Slider in, slider hung up, 0-2 to Rodriguez, another hanging slider, which Rodriguez shoots into right past a diving Bruntlett.
Aaron Miles, fastball middle, fastball away, 0-2, fastball high, fastball away 2-2, slider fouled, slider diving in, swinging K. Spiezio, slider in, slider away, slider hanging away, 3-0, fastball missing in, walked him. Now Eckstein, the next batter, the 2 slot, is now the pitchers spot, looping slider 0-1, 96 fastball popped shallow to right center. Taveras had been playing in to cut the runner at home, makes an easy play. They send Gary Bennett to pinch hit, slider, too low, slider in on the corner, 1-1 looking, then a fastball that is tapped to Ensberg moving to his left, he gets the force at second.
So now on to Colorado, Buchholz gets the first game of what JD called, ?some kind of crazy initiation ritual for young pitchers?. He opposes BH Kim at 8:00 central.
