Jaime shutsout Gaints to end homestand

August 21, 2010 -- Cardinals' Pedro Feliz (right) reaches third with a run-scoring triple as San Francisco third baseman Pablo Sandoval (left) waits for the throw in the fifth nning during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Chris Lee clee@post-dispatch.com

Cardinals rookie sensation Jaime Garcia pitches a complete game shutout sunday caping off a disappointing 3-5 home-stand. After only pitching 37 and a third innings last year in the minors St. Louis did not want to overuse his arm this year, but after only throwing 89 pitches in his first complete game 9-0 victory over the Giants he said "I didn't even peek at the pitch count, all I wanted to do was focus on the next pitch and hope to get things done". Of the three hits surrendered by Garcia Sunday they were promptly erased by Jose Guillen's two double play balls. Personally I think Jaime Garcia is great pitcher and working well in this stacked Cardinals rotation. It will be nice to see him pitch like this again in his upcoming starts with the crew.

Rookie teammate Allen Craig was 2 for 18 before hitting his second career blast today off losing pitcher Barry Zito, who only pitched four innings before being pulled by manager Bruce Bochey, however his 5 earned runs were enough for first baseman Albert Pujols, who had an rbi of his own off Zito in the third, and the hometown Cards to pull off a much needed 9-0 victory.

St. Louis isnt fully out of the race for October but, they will need to make up 3.5 games on the Reds, who won 5-2 over Joe Torre's Dodger squad today. A much anticipated three game early September series between these two clubs will likely decide the NL central victor. For me the wildcard seems like a better road for the second place Cardinals. Being only two games behind the city of brotherly love, Larussa's team looks to pick up a game on Philly tomorrow as the Phillies take on Houston at home. Hopefully the power of this St. Louis team can give them the ability to go with seven other teams to compete in the month of October.

St. Louis's Pedro Felize a great pickup from Houston went 2 for 5 in todays game improving to 6 for 13 since signing with Larussa. Feliz has done nothing but help this struggling Cardinals lineup both on offense and defense, in the first he snagged a line shot by Buster Posey of the Giants and assisted the two other plays that inning to help Garcia to perfect first inning.

Going into Pittsburg this week Tony Larussa will make a few changes to the lineup card for superstition and faith. First the veteran manager will bring up Garcia to pitch on four days rest ahead the shaky Kyle Lohse who has lost in his last three appearances. Garcia will pitch on monday against the Pirates. I think that this move will pay off because if you look at Jaime's season stats he is the best rookie pitcher in the league and Lohse is having an off season, granted Lohse is 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA against Pittsburg,
Garcia has the consistency that the organization is looking for. Secondly, Larussa in the past has batted his pitcher eight to get an extra position player behind Pujols in the lineup, but he has hit him ninth in the past two games which they ended up winning. So look to see the Cards have the there man on the mound bat a position back for the upcoming series.

St. Louis is 50-27 when Garcia, Carpenter, or Wainwright start, 17-27 with others. You will see two of these three fantastic pitchers in the Monday to Wednesday series against the Pirates in Pittsburg. We will see if the Cardinals can pick up some lost room from either the Reds or the wildcard leading Phillies.
Thanks for reading. Go Cards!!!!


Jaime Garcia, Cards Blank Giants