GDT 5/3 (L) : Cardinals (19-11) vs. Cubs (17-12), 2:45 CT (Lohse v. Lilly)

[kah]

[kah]

Cards hope Izzy gets sorted out
St. Louis (19-11) vs. Chicago (17-12), Saturday, 2:45 p.m. CT
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

ST. LOUIS -- Jason Isringhausen is mystified by his current slump, and so is his team. All anyone knows is that Isringhausen needs to get righted, and quickly.
Isringhausen has been scored upon in five of his past eight games, posting a 13.50 ERA in that time. In his last six games, Isringhausen has thrown 90 pitches -- and gotten three swinging strikes.

He's in a rut, and it's a problem.

"I'm just trying to figure out exactly what I'm doing," he said. "I'll watch tape all day then go out in the bullpen and throw all day and make good pitches, then I go out there and make a bad pitch and it gets hit. But that's pitching. That's why it's hard to do this job and to stay doing what I've been doing for so long. But it doesn't make it easier."

Most wins have been close wins for the Cardinals this year, magnifying the situation. Not a slugging team, the Redbirds need quality late-inning work from their bullpen. For the most part they've gotten it, except for the guy having a hard time in the ninth.

Isringhausen swears he feels fine, but that's almost more disconcerting than if he were hurt. Typically, he's either been good or injured during his Cardinals tenure. If he's well, but ineffective, it presents a significant problem.

"Physically, I feel as good as I have," he said. "Watching tape, my velocity is there. It's just, when I make a mistake with my cutter to a righty, it gets hit a long way. It's either not throw it anymore or make better pitches with it.

"It's something that I've got to figure out. If I don't figure it out, I ain't going to be doing what I'm doing."

Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Kyle Lohse (3-0, 2.36 ERA)
Lohse's strikeout rate is way down in the early going, but he's keeping the walks and home runs down as well. If he continues to do the last two, he can get away with the first. The Cubs, with several batters who have hit him very well over the years, present a challenge for Lohse.

CHC: LHP Ted Lilly (1-4, 6.46 ERA)
Lilly should've won his last start against the Nationals. He gave up two runs on four hits over six innings, and looked sharp. But the Cubs were shut out by Nationals phenom John Lannan. Lilly's velocity is still off, but he's not worried. If other pitchers can win without throwing 99 mph, why can't he? It's a matter of improved command, and that's what the lefty is working on.

Tidbits
Albert Pujols has 10 walks and one strikeout against left-handed pitching this year. ... Pujols has reached base in all 30 games in 2008. ... Since April 7, reliever Kyle McClellan has made nine consecutive shutout appearances. In that time, McClellan has allowed eight hits and one walk in 12 innings, striking out 10. ... Lohse has a 1.08 ERA at home (5.79 on the road).

Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FOX

On radio
• KTRS 550

Up next
• Sunday: Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer, 2-1, 4.14) vs. Cubs (Jason Marquis, 1-1, 4.45), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Cardinals (Joel Pineiro, 2-2, 3.75) at Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez, 1-2, 5.90), 7:35 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Cardinals (Braden Looper, 4-1, 3.86) at Rockies (Mark Redman, 2-2, 7.43), 7:35 p.m. CT

[cardinalgirl]

it's cold out there today.

last night's weather was AWESOME. 68 and fair. I've never been so comfortable at a game, weatherwise.

[sportschick]

it's cold out there today.

last night's weather was AWESOME. 68 and fair. I've never been so comfortable at a game, weatherwise.

++

Would take much more clothes to be as comfortable today, as it was last night. Didn't even need my jacket. And my exposed feet did not get cold.
Today? Eh. I'll be glad to watch it snuggled on my couch with a blanket.

[cardinalgirl]

I'll have to hear it on the radio (WITHOUT MIKE SHANNON DAMMIT) because I'll be driving around doing things and then ultimately ending up at my buddy's house and cooking so no tv for me.

[Jeffro]

The Cubs suck. The end.

[007]

I rather enjoyed myself...my valise matched my shoes, which makes for a great evening...

[CD]

You all will get to hear Joe Buck do a Cardinals game for the first, and probably last, time this season (unless the Cards get to the NLCS and beyond).

On the bright side, this also will probably be the last time you'll have to hear Tim McCarver do a Cardinals game this season (unless the Cards get to the NLCS and beyond).

[007]

You all will get to hear Joe Buck do a Cardinals game for the first, and probably last, time this season (unless the Cards get to the NLCS and beyond).

On the bright side, this also will probably be the last time you'll have to hear Tim McCarver do a Cardinals game this season (unless the Cards get to the NLCS and beyond).

I always enjoy listening to "Balls Deep" do a Cards game...

He does need a new partner...

[sportschick]

I rather enjoyed myself...my valise matched my shoes, which makes for a great evening...

Always a good thing...Although I left my valise in my car, so I wouldn't have to mess with being searched at the gate.

[Tazlaz]

edgads... Cubs vs Lohse

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Alfonso Soriano      28    28  12  2  0  2   6   0   2  .429  .429  .714 1.143 
Mark DeRosa          13    11   6  0  0  1   1   2   2  .545  .615  .818 1.433 
Reed Johnson          7     6   2  0  0  0   1   1   0  .333  .429  .333  .762 
Derrek Lee            7     6   2  1  0  0   0   1   3  .333  .429  .500  .929 
Ryan Theriot          7     7   4  0  0  0   0   0   0  .571  .571  .571 1.142 
Aramis Ramirez        6     5   5  2  0  1   3   0   0 1.000 1.000 2.000 3.000 
Jon Lieber            4     4   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Jason Marquis         3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Henry Blanco          2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Ronny Cedeno          2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Ted Lilly             2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Carlos Zambrano       2     2   1  0  0  1   1   0   0  .500  .500 2.000 2.500 
Mike Fontenot         1     0   0  0  0  0   1   1   0       1.000             
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Total                84    78  32  5  0  5  13   5  13  .410  .452  .667 1.119

[InSighT]

good thing we plunked Ramirez last night, huh?

[Tazlaz]

only if he doesn't start

[lazydaze]

edgads... Cubs vs Lohse

That was before my sponsorship...

[ShortHop]

What is the deal with Shannon? Why wasn't he doing that game last night?