INSIDE PITCH
Left-handed rookie pitcher Barret Browning felt he knew exactly why
the Cardinals lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-3, in 19 innings on Sunday.
"These guys played a great game --
both teams," said Browning. "It came down to one guy not doing the job. And that
was me."
Browning allowed a solo homer in the
19th inning to Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez and, with two outs, a two-run
single by center fielder Andrew McCutchen, whom the Cardinals controlled for
almost the whole series.
"If I put up a zero, then we've got a
chance to win the game," said Browning. "At least, if I limit it to the one run,
we would have had a chance to win the game.
"But it's tough to come back with
three in one inning. I put these guys in a deep rut. They fought all day. They
played well enough to win this game. And I took it from them."
Left-hander Jaime Garcia pitched a
stunning eight innings for the Cardinals, giving up two unearned runs because of
his own fielding error, and fanning 10 while walking no one. Garcia had been out
since June 5 with a left shoulder strain and had made four minor league starts
on the medical rehabilitation program but none like this.
After throwing 107 pitches, he said,
"The whole time I felt pretty good."
NOTES,
QUOTES
LF Matt Holliday was
nothing for seven and third baseman David Freese was nothing for eight, the
first time since Luis Alicea in 1988 that a Cardinals player had gone nothing
for eight.
The 19-inning game was
the longest for the Cardinals since a 20-inning, 2-1 loss to New York in 2010. The
starter in both games was LHP Jaime Garcia, who didn't allow an earned run in
either game while pitching a total of 15 innings, eight on Sunday.
RF Carlos Beltran took
over the National League RBI lead at 85 with a two-run double in the fourth
inning. He also stole three bases in extra innings. "Twenty innings or nine
innings, a loss is a loss," Beltran said after the Cardinals had lost in 19
innings to Pittsburgh. "We had the opportunities. It just
didn't happen."
RHP Joe Kelly, displaced
in the rotation by LHP Jaime Garcia after the latter had recovered from a
strained left shoulder, threw 86 pitches in working 5 2/3 innings of relief.
Kelly, who many thought would relieve Garcia earlier in the game, didn't come
into the game until the 12th. "When they put me in the bullpen, they told me to
prepare for any situation, so it wasn't like I was taking anything mentally
off," Kelly said. "When the phone rang, I thought it was me every time."
LHP Jaime Garcia, in his
first start for the Cardinals since June 5, came off the disabled list (strained
left shoulder) and fanned 10 while walking no one. "I liked the way the ball was
coming out of his hand, and how (the Pirates) were reacting to him," said
manager Mike Matheny. "I forgot how nasty his stuff was."
1B Allen Craig increased
his career-best hitting streak to nine games with two singles. He was 12-for-37
in that time.
RHP Trevor Rosenthal was
optioned to Class AAA Memphis to make room for LHP Jaime
Garcia.
By the
Numbers:
9 - Number of consecutive
scoreless appearances by RHP Edward Mujica since being acquired from Miami on July 31.
Quote to Note:
"I don't know if it can
be any more disappointing. It's a tough one to swallow."
- Manager Mike Matheny,
on the 19-inning loss to Pittsburgh.
MEDICAL
WATCH
LHP Jaime Garcia (left
shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 6, and he
was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 16. After further examination, it was
determined that he has tearing in his rotator cuff. He threw 40 pitches from 60
feet on flat ground for the first time in a month July 4. He threw live batting
practice July 25. He began a rehab assignment July 30 in the rookie-level Gulf
Coast League, and he was slated to make four starts before a potential return to
the Cardinals in mid-August. The fourth start was Aug. 14. He was added to the
roster Aug. 19 and started against Pittsburgh
C Yadier Molina (sore
left hand and elbow) did not play Aug. 12. He incurred some mid-back tightness
and sat out Aug. 14-17 before starting on Aug. 18.
1B Lance Berkman (right
knee inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 3. He is scheduled to
start a rehab assignment at Class AAA Memphis on Aug. 22.
RHP Kyle McClellan (torn
labrum in right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 18 due to a
strained right elbow, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 30. He
threw on flat ground for the first time July 3, but he subsequently felt
shoulder pain. He had season-ending shoulder surgery July
10.
RHP Chris Carpenter (weak
right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he
was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 10. He threw for the first time since
March on June 13 and then threw another 40 pitches on June 15. He threw to
hitters for the first time June 22 but then had a setback June 25 when he felt
renewed weakness in the shoulder. He said it felt better the next day, and he
had an extensive throwing session off flat ground June 27. On June 28, he was
told he has thoracic outlet syndrome, which can cause, among its effects,
weakness in one's shoulder. A July 2 bullpen session was canceled. He underwent
season-ending surgery July 19 to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome. He did some
light tossing from 40 to 60 feet on Aug. 16.
Link to boxscore: Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 3 (19 innings)