Good First Step

The Cards could have come out flat, wallowing in the one-two punch of their top players being taken from them for a time.  Instead, they decided the best way to work through the adversity was to make someone else pay for it.  A few more games like that and the loss of Wainwright and Pujols might not be quite as devastating.

Not much doubt that the Hero of the piece was Braden Looper.  A complete game shutout anywhere, especially for a converted reliever, would get you kudos, but to do it in the bandbox that is Great American Ballpark is even more impressive.  It's not like the wind was blowing in--the Cards did smash three home runs--but he "made it look easy" as my Reds fan father in law said when he called for his weekly chat.

A number of players could have challenged Looper for the title.  Ryan Ludwick hit another home run.  Jason LaRue--yes, that Jason LaRue--broke out of his power outage with a home run in a two-hit night.  Rick Ankiel went deep.  Even Chris Duncan contributed, getting a hit in four trips and making a sparkling defensive play at first.

As hard as it was to narrow down the Hero, it is equally tough to name a Goat.  It comes down to Aaron Miles and Troy Glaus, both of whom were 0-3.  Miles had two walks, but also a strikeout.  Glaus walked once and didn't K.  Both scored a run.  Miles left two on, while Glaus only left one, so he gets the tag.

The Cards have already won the series, but they go for the sweep tomorrow evening.  It could be a tough task, depending on what Joel Pineiro brings from the disabled list.  Pineiro hasn't thrown since May 20, when he allowed three runs in 5.2 innings to San Diego.  He faced the Reds earlier in the year, throwing seven scoreless innings.  Corey Patterson has had the most success against him in the past, so he'll probably get a start.

The Reds counter with Bronson Arroyo.  Arroyo has struggled some this year, posting a 5.74 ERA.  However, his ERA stood at 7.56 when he faced the Cardinals back in April and he was able to get a victory, allowing only three runs in six innings.  He's done a pretty good job against the Cardinals in the past, but Ludwick and Ankiel both have had success against him.

On paper, at least, the Cards should have the advantage.  It could turn into a high scoring affair, though, if Pineiro has some rust on the arm.

After the jump, a couple of housekeeping items:



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I've noticed that, apparently, part of being a sports blogger is that you get asked to help out in marketing campaigns.  I've already published a couple of notes from XM Radio, which I have no problem doing since I love the service.


I received another one in my mailbox today, and while I'm not a State Farm guy, it's a baseball promotion and I've got no problem putting it out there.  You've probably seen most of the advertising anyway, about their "Call Your Shot" promotion for the Home Run Derby.  It's a little surprising they used David Ortiz in the advertising instead of someone like Alex Rodriguez, since the game is in Yankee Stadium and it's basically a takeoff of what Babe Ruth did.  Anyway, two HR Derby contestants could be trying to hit it where you point and win you a great prize package.  To read more, head over to the official site and register.  There are some nice prizes for runners-up as well.

Secondly, I want to clearly state that I am the best blogger that has ever written for C70 At The Bat.  I want to state that now because, coming next week, that may no longer be the case, depending on your personal preference.  I am taking my annual vacation to Ohio to see the inlaws and show off the grandkids.  Instead of letting this site go dark during that time (June 20th through June 29th), Mike from Stan Musial's Stance has graciously agreed to do some posting, keeping up with the Heroes and Goats as well as everything else Cardinal related.  I want to thank him in advance for keeping the home fires burning and look forward to checking in occasionally to see what he's writing.  (My internet access during that time will be slim and none, most likely.)