Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa defends Motte after hurler scrambles Game 2
The St. Louis Cardinals had a lot to be disappointed with in Game 2 of the World Series. The club did an excellent job on recording a 3 – 2 victory in Game 1 against the Texas Rangers but their efforts went to waste in Game 2 as their top closer Jason Motte
picked up a disappointing loss. The club conceded two runs in the ninth inning to lose the bout 2 – 1. Tony La Russa spoke out of the Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, October 20, about Motte’s hiccup.
The club is now 1 – 1 in the final stage of the season and they may feel pressure building up on their backs as they will be going to the Rangers Ballpark for Game 3 but La Russa stressed that the Cardinals would be back in the mix on Saturday with Motte
going up on his regular position as a closer. Ian Kinsler may have got a lucky hit in the ninth to lead a rally for runs but that is a memory that will be easily overcome by the team.
"I know that if we get the lead on Saturday, [Motte will] be 100 percent ready to go," La Russa said. "He caught a tough break, which is baseball. I mean, the ball that Kinsler hit, that's a blooper off the end of the bat. That's not a hit a lot, but it
was, and that was a tough break for us."
At the end of the day, the Cardinals did not lose the game, they were simply beaten. That was something Texas manager Ron Washington said after Game 1 and La Russa had the same thing to say on Thursday.
"We did the best we could, and they did it better, so Series [tied] 1-1," La Russa said. "The only time you have regrets is if you didn't compete the proper way, and we did, and just got beat."
Motte is currently 0 – 1 in the postseason with nine games under his belt. He has an earning runs average of just 2.00 and he has picked up just two runs from three hits.
Tags: