All flights grounded
Joel Pineiro worked ground ball magic and the St. Louis Cardinals infielders fielded their positions flawlessly leading the Cards to a 3-0 win over the New York Mets. Mets starter Livan Hernandez gave his team another quality start, his eighth in fourteen starts, but the defense made it’s first error of the season behind Hernandez, allowing an unearned run and that was all the Cardinals would need in support of Pineiro.
DH schmee aitch
Pineiro not only pitched well but hit well and ran the bases intelligently. He led of the 3rd inning with a double. Brendan Ryan then attempted a sacrifice bunt which Hernandez quickly fielded. As Pineiro realized he couldn’t make it to third and retreated back to second base, Hernandez wheeled to throw to third but seeing Pineiro go back to second, then threw to first base too late putting runners on first and second with no one out. Skip Schumaker then hit a sharp ground ball to first baseman Daniel Murphy who made a low throw to Alex Cora covering second base that bounced away for an error on Murphy, allowing Pineiro to score. Pineiro also singled in the 4th inning and wound up 2 for 4 on the night.
The Cardinals added 2 insurance runs in the 7th when Albert Pujols hit a bases loaded single driving in Ryan and Schumaker.
Cards catch 22 ground ball outs
Pineiro was clearly the number 1 star of the game. In addition to his hitting prowess he pitched a complete game shutout in which he allowed only 2 hits and 1 walk. He recorded 22 of the 27 outs on ground balls.
The low point of the game for the Mets aside from Murphy’s throwing error may have been the bottom of the 6th inning. Luis Castillo led off with a walk, then manager Jerry Manuel called a hit and run play with the pitcher at the plate (editor’s note: in a post game TV interview Livan Hernandez took responsibility for calling the hit and run himself. Perhaps even more bizarre than Manuel calling it). Hernandez swung and missed at a low outside pitch and Castillo was gunned down at second base.
The high point of the game for the Mets aside from Hernandez’ quality start was the 2 innings of relief pitching from oldtimer newcomer Elmer Dessens. Dessens sent the Cardinals down 1-2-3 twice, recording 5 ground balls of his own along with one strikeout.
For the box score please visit yahoo.com
25 comments
QnsNative718
6/23/2009-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
With the Mets down a run, Jerry calls for a hit and run with the pitcher at bat…………………………………(crickets)…………………..Thats right, the freakin pitcher.
metsfan4decades
6/23/2009-11:07pm at 11:07 pm (UTC -4)
Livan just said on Sports Night he called that play, it was his idea. ‘It didn’t work’……
QnsNative718
6/23/2009-11:10pm at 11:10 pm (UTC -4)
oh… (Damn, cant pick on Jerry for that tomorrow… Oh wait, Tatis hitting clean up again. There we go.)
GravediggerHebner
6/23/2009-11:14pm at 11:14 pm (UTC -4)
When Jeremy Reed got the pinch hit in the 9th my first thought was “if only he’d started in LF tonight instead of Tatis, this game might have unfolded differently.”
QnsNative718
6/23/2009-11:25pm at 11:25 pm (UTC -4)
Yea, thats what we’ve sunk to… Jeremy Reed. lol
GravediggerHebner
6/23/2009-11:08pm at 11:08 pm (UTC -4)
After I wrote that, I heard an interview with Livan in which I think he said that he (Livan) called that hit and run from the batters box. I had some trouble understanding Livan but I think that’s what I heard and it sounded like whoever was questioning him said “you called it?” but I have my TV down low and a fan on so I can’t be sure.
metsfan4decades
6/23/2009-11:41pm at 11:41 pm (UTC -4)
You are correct, Grave. That’s what he said. He said it twice:
‘Jerry no call that play. I did. It no work’.
(and not trying to make fun of him, just trying to quote him…)
GravediggerHebner
6/24/2009-12:46am at 12:46 am (UTC -4)
I appreciate the quote, thank you.
metsfan4decades
6/23/2009-11:06pm at 11:06 pm (UTC -4)
Well, that was just pathetic tonight. Hope we’re not in for many more nights of the same until guys start coming off the DL. Some thoughts:
- Livan deserved better than that tonight. But that seems to be a recurrent theme when he pitches.
- Murph has done a fair to good job at first but it’s clear he needs some more work. I love this kid’s work ethic though and his post game interviews. He never makes excuses, he breaks down any fielding mistake or poor at bats, and tells you what he needs to do next time out to improve.
- Please, can we see Sheff’s name in the line up tomorrow night batting clean up? I know they’re trying to get Tatis going but not in that 4th spot. Can we declare that a failed experiment for now?
smooth
6/23/2009-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry said we have to be creative when asking about the livan hit and run play. He also said Tatis has to work out of his slump, said theres no other way. I give up on jerry manuel…
QnsNative718
6/23/2009-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
Theres no other way but to hit him cleanup???
GravediggerHebner
6/23/2009-11:20pm at 11:20 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, it’s classic slump busting. Bat your most slumpingest hitter 4th, he’s sure to break out!
QnsNative718
6/23/2009-11:24pm at 11:24 pm (UTC -4)
We all called that DP with Tatis late in the game (Except for me, I called a grandslam just so I wasnt a follower…) It was freakin hilarious.
dentulous
6/23/2009-11:29pm at 11:29 pm (UTC -4)
persistence pays off, dont it? I dont think anyone can take another day with Tatis as Mr. Cleanup.
smooth
6/23/2009-11:37pm at 11:37 pm (UTC -4)
if tatis bats cleanup again, i wont watch the game. simple as that, id rather go watch land of the lost
stickguy
6/24/2009-12:06am at 12:06 am (UTC -4)
things are bad, but we haven’t decended nearly that low.
steveo
6/23/2009-11:37pm at 11:37 pm (UTC -4)
It just keeps on getting worse. I say put evans in what the hell did they bring him up for he cant do worse than tatis.i hope sheffeild can play tommorow but you know he wont thursday day game so why not evans
dentulous
6/23/2009-11:31pm at 11:31 pm (UTC -4)
Man, today was just sad. Good thing I didnt watch….
Livan did damn well against a team that has hit him hard over the years. I really hope this isnt going to follow the pattern we have seen of winning one and falling asleep for the other games in the series. We havent won one in a long time.
steveo
6/23/2009-11:40pm at 11:40 pm (UTC -4)
I knew this series was going to be an uphill battle especially without beltran .It would be nice to see 2 in a row just once and not 2 losses in a row
stickguy
6/24/2009-12:05am at 12:05 am (UTC -4)
If SHeff is this bad after a week at DH and what, 1? game back in the field, he needs to go. Either DL him along with everyone else, or cut him and find a live body.
Or, just relegate him to PH bench duties (what he was brought here for) and annoint a new starter. Evans? Ambres? Beuller? ANyone?
smooth
6/24/2009-12:22am at 12:22 am (UTC -4)
Yea Manuel chose a great time to rest Sheffield when Beltran hits the DL. Be patient and wait for Tatis to work out of his slump in the cleanup spot as he hurts this team. Manuel for Coach of the year!!!
GravediggerHebner
6/24/2009-12:47am at 12:47 am (UTC -4)
Excellent Bueller reference.
stickguy
6/24/2009-12:52am at 12:52 am (UTC -4)
can never go wrong sticking with the classics.
Maybe theMets aren’t winning since they aren’t on a mission from God (or is that the Cubs?)
GravediggerHebner
6/24/2009-12:59am at 12:59 am (UTC -4)
Probably the Cubs, which reminds me: I hate Illinois Nazis.
I must go to sleep now. Thank you for continuing to read and comment Stick. Good night.
DNDJohan aka kistics
6/24/2009-2:40am at 2:40 am (UTC -4)
How about that Joel “Cy Young” Pinero who hasn’t won in 5 games before facing the Mets. You would assume that this team would have some game plan for this guy by now, but same f-in approach. Swing at the first pitch that looks like a strike.