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Sunday, July 06, 2008

MLB.com: Wood can’t close out Cardinals

Rick Ankiel smacked a walk-off two-run single in the ninth inning off Wood to spark the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4, come-from-behind victory over the Cubs on Saturday, and close to 2 1/2 games in the National League Central.
...
“He almost got out of it,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “You walk the first two hitters in an inning, you get yourself in trouble right from the get go. We weren’t sure if Kennedy was going to bunt or not bunt, and he hits the ball by the first baseman. Then the two-out hit by Ankiel—tough loss.

“All I know is it didn’t work out today, that’s all.”

Wood had converted 12 straight save opportunities, and entered the game with a road ERA of 1.83. He has now converted 22 of 27 save situations.

The Brewers are also just 3.5 back, and 1 back of the wildcard leaders the Cards, in a race involving the teams with the three best records in the NL.

NTNgod Posted: July 06, 2008 at 01:26 AM | 5 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: cardinals, cubs, game recaps

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   1. Walt Davis Posted: July 06, 2008 at 02:02 AM (#2845147)
Piniella would have had a hard time doing a worse job of managing that 9th inning. After Kennedy's double, the Cubs still hold a 4-3 lead, men on 2nd and 3rd, nobody out. Here comes Chris Duncan to PH. You still have a 1-run lead. Nobody out so a DP doesn't get you out of the inning, Duncan's not a very good hitter and he Ks a lot. So of course Piniella intentionally walks him?

Then ... with a 1-run lead and the winning run at 2B, Piniella plays the infield in??!! A single loses us the ballgame but he increases greatly the chances of a single. Wood does manage to get the next two without the run scoring so Piniella's move didn't cost us the game directly. But I'd still rather take my chances with Duncan, then Wood doesn't have to work so hard to get 3 outs with the bases loaded.

As I popped into the game chatter only to mention: Piniella managed that inning as if Kennedy's double tied the game.
   2. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 06, 2008 at 02:50 AM (#2845194)
I was gone most of the game, so I missed out on all this. I was at a BBQ and we came inside during the ninth inning of the Yanks/Sox game. I noticed the Cubs were up 4-2 at the time (since Fox posts the scores in the corner). What an agonizing sequence it was to watch that eventually change to 4-3, then 4-4 and quickly 5-4. A series win against the Cards would be great, but from the sounds of it, the Cubs should be going for the sweep tomorrow and not just the series win.
   3. Pujols Shot Ya Posted: July 06, 2008 at 03:53 AM (#2845219)
my cat's breath smells like cat food.
   4. Fred C. Dobbs Posted: July 06, 2008 at 05:23 AM (#2845269)
I guess Kerry forgot to take his steroids :(
   5. Cyclone Alley Posted: July 06, 2008 at 01:24 PM (#2845331)
Nah, Ankiel had just a little bit more.

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