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Cardinals look to contain Berkman
05/28/2008 12:49 AM ETBy Matthew Leach / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- The biggest problem with Lance Berkman is that he's not the only problem in the Astros' lineup for opposing pitchers. On Tuesday night, the Cardinals saw the truth of that. They contained Berkman, more or less, but still watched as Houston hung eight runs on the scoreboard. Berkman singled and drew two walks -- and scored three runs.
And make no mistake, a 1-for-3 night counts as containing Berkman these days. The switch-hitter entered Tuesday night with a staggering .488 May batting average. But the issue is that you can't really pitch around him, with Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence waiting to punish pitchers who walk Berkman.
"I don't think you have a choice with that," manager Tony La Russa said. "One of their strengths is they've got good depth of productive, tough outs. So you've got to be ready to compete against everybody."
The Cardinals will send their ace to the mound to try and quiet Berkman and the Astros on Wednesday. And while they have no better starter than Adam Wainwright, they might have some better options for getting Berkman out. Berkman is 5-for-15 (.333) with two home runs against Wainwright.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Adam Wainwright (4-2, 3.06 ERA)
Wainwright righted himself, just as he expected he would, on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Now he comes home, where he's pitched very well this year (3-0, 2.70 in five starts). And he goes up against a Houston team he held down in an impressive, gutty performance earlier this year. He's the Cards' ace, and he seems to be back on track.
HOU: LHP Wandy Rodriguez (1-0, 2.31 ERA)
Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list since April 20 due to a strained groin, will be activated for this start at Busch Stadium. The only lefty in the rotation, Rodriguez is 1-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 10 career appearances aginst St. Louis, but he beat the Cardinals on April 7 with 7 1/3 scoreless innings (three hits allowed) with no walks and six strikeouts in a start at Minute Maid Park.
Tidbits
The Cardinals are 9-10 in games started by opposing left-handers. ... Eight different players have batted second in the starting lineup for the Cardinals this year. Ten different players have gotten the starting call in the No. 6 spot. ... The Cardinals have lost the first game in 10 of their 18 series this year. However, in the previous nine series where they've lost the opener, they've salvaged five series wins and two splits. ... Ryan Ludwick is hitting .226 against left-handers, but eight of his 12 hits have gone for extra bases, so he's slugging .604 against southpaws.
Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• FSN-HD
On radio
• KTRS 550
Up next
• Thursday: Cardinals (Kyle Lohse, 4-2, 4.26) vs. Astros (Roy Oswalt, 4-4, 5.61), 7:15 p.m. CT
• Friday: Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer, 5-1, 3.36) vs. Pirates (Phil Dumatrait, 1-2, 4.05), 7:15 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Cardinals (Joel Pineiro, 2-3, 4.50) vs. Pirates (Paul Maholm, 2-5, 5.11), 6:15 p.m. CT
05/28/2008 12:49 AM ETBy Matthew Leach / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- The biggest problem with Lance Berkman is that he's not the only problem in the Astros' lineup for opposing pitchers. On Tuesday night, the Cardinals saw the truth of that. They contained Berkman, more or less, but still watched as Houston hung eight runs on the scoreboard. Berkman singled and drew two walks -- and scored three runs.
And make no mistake, a 1-for-3 night counts as containing Berkman these days. The switch-hitter entered Tuesday night with a staggering .488 May batting average. But the issue is that you can't really pitch around him, with Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence waiting to punish pitchers who walk Berkman.
"I don't think you have a choice with that," manager Tony La Russa said. "One of their strengths is they've got good depth of productive, tough outs. So you've got to be ready to compete against everybody."
The Cardinals will send their ace to the mound to try and quiet Berkman and the Astros on Wednesday. And while they have no better starter than Adam Wainwright, they might have some better options for getting Berkman out. Berkman is 5-for-15 (.333) with two home runs against Wainwright.
Pitching matchup
STL: RHP Adam Wainwright (4-2, 3.06 ERA)
Wainwright righted himself, just as he expected he would, on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Now he comes home, where he's pitched very well this year (3-0, 2.70 in five starts). And he goes up against a Houston team he held down in an impressive, gutty performance earlier this year. He's the Cards' ace, and he seems to be back on track.
HOU: LHP Wandy Rodriguez (1-0, 2.31 ERA)
Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list since April 20 due to a strained groin, will be activated for this start at Busch Stadium. The only lefty in the rotation, Rodriguez is 1-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 10 career appearances aginst St. Louis, but he beat the Cardinals on April 7 with 7 1/3 scoreless innings (three hits allowed) with no walks and six strikeouts in a start at Minute Maid Park.
Tidbits
The Cardinals are 9-10 in games started by opposing left-handers. ... Eight different players have batted second in the starting lineup for the Cardinals this year. Ten different players have gotten the starting call in the No. 6 spot. ... The Cardinals have lost the first game in 10 of their 18 series this year. However, in the previous nine series where they've lost the opener, they've salvaged five series wins and two splits. ... Ryan Ludwick is hitting .226 against left-handers, but eight of his 12 hits have gone for extra bases, so he's slugging .604 against southpaws.
Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person. On the Internet
MLB.TV Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• FSN-HD
On radio
• KTRS 550
Up next
• Thursday: Cardinals (Kyle Lohse, 4-2, 4.26) vs. Astros (Roy Oswalt, 4-4, 5.61), 7:15 p.m. CT
• Friday: Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer, 5-1, 3.36) vs. Pirates (Phil Dumatrait, 1-2, 4.05), 7:15 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Cardinals (Joel Pineiro, 2-3, 4.50) vs. Pirates (Paul Maholm, 2-5, 5.11), 6:15 p.m. CT
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