There didn’t seem to be that much difference in offense tonight between the two teams. The Cardinals had one more hit (8 to 7) but each team drew three walks. Houston had three extra base hits to the Cardinals one. Houston even turned one more double play.
The problem tonight was timing. The Astros were 0 for 6 with men in scoring position, the Cardinals 2 for 5. When most of your line up is composed of weak hitters, it’s likely you’ll have one up when there’s a man on base.
Carpenter did not pitch a great game as he walked three and only struck out three over eight innings. The Astros should have scored more against him.
Pettitte always seems to have one lousy game during the post season. I guess this was it.
this series…zzzz
Dave –
This is the second comment you’ve made recently regarding pitching that has gone over my head. Looking at the box score, I would conclude that Carpenter pitched a heck of a game. 5 hits over 8 innings, 2 earned runs, sounds like no one on the Astros could get a read on him and he protected the lead deep into the game – the point of pitching, no? If my Yanks had gotten something like that we’d be free of that cursed Rally Monkey ’till next year. But seriously, why would you not (I’m assuming you wouldn’t) agree with my analysis.
There was a degree of luck to Carp’s line. The Berkman DP ball was smoked, and Sanders took away a Lamb homer.
In addition, whenever the Astros should have tried to extend Carpenter by making him throw pitches, they just spaced out or whatever and started flailing. Like the eighth, what was that six pitches?
So Carpenter definitely had some luck and definitely had some help.
At the same time his ground ball flyball was definitely where he wanted it, as the Fox guys kept reminding us.
I would agree that Pettitte was lousy, and wonder whether it has anything to do with the bug he had Sunday.
Anybody else besides me really miss ESPN’s coverage of baseball,especially without Joe Buck?
I don’t know. Pettitte seemed like he was battling more than Carp. Granted, I’m a Cards fan, so maybe I’m biased. But Carp seemed to start off ahead of guys, then give up the balls by trying to get guys to swing at pitches that weren’t strikes. Pettitte seemed to fall behind in the count more. What’s more, Carpenter did a better job at keeping the ball on the ground (17-4 GB/FB ration compared to Pettitte’s 9-7) and letting his defense make plays. Five hits through eight innings is pretty good, even if the three walks were somewhat uncharacteristic. Plus, he was keeping his curve down more, something he didn’t do very effectively against the Padres.
As far as I’m concerned 8 IP from the starter = success for the Cards. That means 1 IP from the bullpen. Okie-dokie.
And how bout that squeeze play? After the pitchout. Jeez.
Sanders didn’t take away a Lamb homer, he took away a Lamb double.
and I’d call it “luck” if the Cardinals weren’t doing it all year long.
Pettitte was hit in the right knee by Roy Oswalt of all people during batting practice and had to have the spot numbed by a shot before the game. Not making excuses, but when is the last time you’ve seen Pettitte that bad? It’s been months.
It is always interesting to note comments by baseball fans who have not watched much Cardinal baseball.
The Cardinals win by placing pressure on the other team, capitalizing on the extra outs that they are given and making key defensive plays.
Nunez throwing out Ensberg at home is a play that most teams do not make.
Reading the box score doesn’t tell the story.
Both teams had home runs, but Sanders hit set the tone of the game and put the Astro’s in a hole.
Getting ahead early has been the story in this years playoffs for the Cardinals. How many hits the other team has had is a theme of Sheehan over at baseball prospectus perhaps because he picked the Padres to win in four games. Note to Joe; it doesn’t matter how many singles you give up when your team in up 8 to 0.
Petite pitched well enough to beat the Braves yesterday.
He didn’t pitch well enough to beat the Cardinals.
Remember the series between the Astros and Cards on July 15, 16 and 17 when the Cards swept and beat Clemens and Oswalt in St Louis. Cardinal pitching is the key to the series.
Yes Clemens and Oswalt and Petite will pitch well enough to win ball games, but if the Astros hit well enough to win, they will lose, if they can’t hit Mulder today they are done.
The Cardinals do make a lot of good defensive plays. But for a while during the season, Carpenter was virtually unhittable. He was okay last night, but far from dominant.