Our Long Cardinal Nightmare Is Over

At least, it is for one day.  The Cards, with a insane lineup, actually were able to beat the Reds 5-4 last night to end the 7 game losing streak.

When you have a lineup that starts Aaron Miles and Adam Kennedy in the outfield and you actually win, there's probably little doubt how that happened.  Albert Pujols hit a three-run shot to put the Cardinals out front.  Of course, it almost looked like they'd give it right back, as the Reds scored a run on a ball that a normal outfielder might have gotten to, but was a double with Miles out there.  Lohse settled down, though and finally got his 14th win.

They say the win justifies TLR's off-the-wall antics as he tried to jam in as many lefties as possible.  But the Cardinals still managed just six hits.  If Volquez has better command (he walked six as well), odds are the losing streak continues. 

The Goat goes to Chris Perez.  The PD game story says he's trying a new arm slot and is having difficulty with it.  For some reason, this causes me a low level of concern, because it hints at a Anthony Reyes-type situation, where they have to tinker.  I'm guessing he needs it, though he's been successful in the past, to be competitive at the big league level.  At least in the braintrust's mind.  But two walks and a run in less than an inning in a game you are supposed to be trying to save is enough to get the Goat label.

In other news, Adam Kennedy wants to be traded.  There's a shocker.  While Kennedy definitely didn't play well last year, he's gone through spurts where he's been solid in 2008.  It does have to be difficult to not know when your next start is going to come.  I'm sure the Cards won't get much for him after the last couple of years, but I hope he winds up in a place where he can contribute and do well.

Today, the Cards go to Wrigley.  With the Cubs magic number at two, they could clinch the NL Central today with a win and a Milwaukee loss.  The good part about that is the Cards play at 1:20 and the Brewer game isn't until 6:10.  Which means that, even if the Cubs do clinch today, they can't celebrate on the field in front of the Redbirds.  Which, really, is about all you can ask at this juncture.

It's going to be a heck of a matchup today as Adam Wainwright goes against Carlos Zambrano.  If nothing else, the Cards are almost assured of a hit today, because Zambrano isn't likely to be the next Johnny Vander Meer.  St. Louis has been strong against the Big Z this year, though, as he's gone 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA.  Of course, most of that was in the August 9 game where he gave up 9 in 4.1, including two home runs to Troy Glaus.  The other game, on July 4, he threw six scoreless.  I'd bet today will be closer to the latter than the former, though the historical numbers aren't terrible for the Redbirds.

Wainwright has only faced the Cubs once this year, allowing a run in 6.1 innings back on May 2, which was pre-injury.  The Cubs have done well against Adam in his career and he'll definitely have to be wary of Aramis Ramirez, who seems to burn all Cardinal pitchers.  As we again curse Pittsburgh for basically giving him to the Cubs a few years ago!

Cardinals and Cubs, afternoon baseball.  Let's see if we can't put a little delay on that big Chicago party, huh?

Tomorrow afternoon, 3:00 pm, the United Cardinal Bloggers are having a multi-site live chat.  You can join in here or at any of the other participating sites and your comments will be seen across the network.  If you've got questions you want us "knowledgable" bloggers to answer or just want to talk baseball during the game, feel free to join us!


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