Kyle McClellan guides St. Louis Cardinals to 4-2 victory over Houston Astros – MLB Update
Kyle McClellan pitched eight strong innings to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 4-2 at Busch Stadium, St. Louis on Thursday, May 19.
"I don't know what my pitch count was, but I thought I was throwing a lot of strikes," McClellan said. "That's when I'm at my best, locating down in the zone."
Albert Pujols boasted his pitching line-up improving. "When we don't show up with our offense, they show up with their pitching," Albert Pujols said. "We put up two or three runs and it almost looks like the game is over."
The game began with the scoreless inning that Kyle McClellan pitched. His rapidly increasing fastballs made things difficult for the Astros’ offence. The starting pitcher constantly brought variation in his delivery, keeping the speed intact. That strategy
proved rewarding as he kept marching forward with enthusiasm.
The Cardinals’ offence, on the other hand, had to take recourse to charge up and strengthen the defence. In the second inning, when the score stood at 0-0, Gerald Laird laid the foundation of a solid game with the two-run homer. Laird took to task J. A.
Happ, the starting pitcher for Houston, to double to deep left that earned him and his team two runs.
The early 2-0 lead was something that McClellan took on himself to defend. However, Carlos Lee scored the first run for Houston in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to centre. The pitcher gave up two hits in the inning and a run.
Allen Craig solidly stood his ground and struck a homer to left-field to take the score 3-1 for the Cardinals. Happ had allowed three runs in the six innings that he pitched. He was replaced by Wilton Lopez in the seventh inning, but that too would not stop
St. Louis.
Ryan Theriot this time punished Lopez. The Cardinals’ hitter singled to left to bring about a leading 4-1 edge for his team. Houston, in the meanwhile, kept trying their best to somehow stage a come-back to a seemingly lost game.
When McClellan came pitching in the eighth inning, his wild pitch allowed Michael Bourn to score the second run for Houston. However, the Cardinals ensured that the lead was translated into a victory.
Fernando Salas gave up only one hit and pitched a shut-out ninth inning to adorn St. Louis’ record with another win, giving his team a 4-2 victory.
Tags: