Pitching is key for St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of World Series on Saturday – MLB World Series
Pitching is the one vulnerability that the St. Louis Cardinals must overcome if they are to prevail in the World Series. This weakness was clearly indicated during Thursday’s Game 2 as the Cardinals struggled.
It was in the ninth inning when the Texas Rangers’ Ian Kinsler went for a critical steal that took the game away from the Cardinals just when they had a 1-0 lead in the game, losing eventually by 2-1. Thus all hopes crumbled to win the second consecutive
game owing to one unexpectedly expensive inning.
Jaime Garcia had the best of starts on Thursday when he pitched seven innings, not allowing any runs to the Texas Rangers’ hitters and having gone for seven strike-outs compared to one run that C. J. Lewis gave up in 6.2 innings that he pitched.
However, it was the otherwise strong and supposedly invulnerable Jason Motte, who had given up no run throughout the postseason, allowing two runs and as many hits brought about a disaster for the Cardinals, thereby losing the game by 1-2.
That was sheer disappointment for the team manager who had to shoulder the responsibility of what had transpired.
"Strategy is strategy -- somebody else might have done something else with the pitching," La Russa said. "I did what I felt was right. But I was upset that I didn't make another [call].”
Tony La Russa might well have thought that Kinsler would not go for a big hit, but that was exactly what the Cardinals eventually saw.
“I didn't defend the running game better, because in the end, I was more concerned about Jason throwing strikes and getting the out that Andrus was trying to give us, and I just didn't feel like Kinsler would try it."
With Kyle Lohse to make the start for the Cardinals on Saturday, October 22 and Matt Harrison for the Texas Rangers, the former would like to compensate for Thursday night’s game result. It remains to be seen how the Cardinals make use of their pitchers
on Saturday.
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