Greene delivers with eighth-inning bomb, Cards win 6-5

Tyler Greene (27) and Yadier Molina (4) celebrating together
following Greene's go-ahead bomb in the bottom of the eighth
inning that was the game-winner in St. Louis' 6-to-5 win.

In a night that was filled with everything that a baseball fan would love to see--especially at Busch Stadium inside "Baseball Heaven", Tyler Greene hit a clutch game-winning two-run home run in the bottom half of the eighth inning, Jason Motte locked down San Diego in the ninth inning, and the first-place Saint Louis Cardinals defeated the San Diego Padres 6-to-5 on Monday night.

Starting pitcher Jaime Garcia pitched seven solid innings of baseball, but ended up recieving a no-decision following a go-ahead RBI from the Padres' Jesus Guzman off of bullpen pitcher Marc Rzepczynski that gave the Padres' the lead in the top half of the eighth-inning--which led to the events of the hit off of the bat of Tyler Greene.

Nick Hundley put the Padres up on top early in the second inning when he scored a sacrafice fly to centerfield that scored Yonder Alonso from third base. Following the runs from San Diego, the scoring was at a minimum as it was scoreless until the bottom half of the seventh.

The Cardinals finally got the party tree of runs started in the seventh when leadoff man Rafael Furcal drove in the hero of the night, Greene, with a single. Matt Carpenter then drove in Jaime on a ground out.

Jaime Garcia didn't recieve the win in tonight's thrilling ballgame
against the Padres, but he once again pitched another good game.

Clayton Richard pitched a stellar game for San Diego tonight as well. He allowed two runs on seven hits in seven and one-third innings with three strikeouts and just one walk. Cashner, who allowed the two-run bomb to Greene in the eighth, got his second blown save on the season and recieved the lost for San Diego, who fell to 16-27 on the season.

Jason Motte pitched an inning and a third, blowing the save opportunity, but getting his third win on the season. The save was blown when Matheny inserted Motte with two outs in the top of the eighth inning which resulted in an RBI single from Guzman. The save was his third blown thus far.

The Cardinals racked out nine hits against the Padres' pitching staff and with the win the team improved to 23-19 overall on the season. The two teams will play game number two tomorrow night at the same place and same time.

Beltran, Cards' host San Diego Padres tonight (Lineups)

Following the first time of the new season, new manager Mike Matheny and his defending World Champion' Saint Louis Cardinals, tonight will they be hosting the San Diego Padres for the first of a three game series inside Busch Stadium for a 7:15 pm Central Time.

The Cardinals enter the game tonight with an overall record of 22-19 and own first-place in the National League Central over the Cincinnati Reds by just a half-game. Tonight's game will feature a pitching-matchup of the Cardinals' Jaime Garcia (3-2, 3.32 ERA) going up against the Padres' starter Clayton Richard (2-5, 4.94 ERA).

News came out previous to warmups tonight that Lance Berkman did not suffer a torn ACL, but instead a torn meniscus--which is good news compared to what was being rumored around--as he will be getting surgery later on this week and will have to miss six-to-eight weeks of game play.

Carlos Beltran also has been reported to be back into the lineup tonight as he has missed the previous few games due to soreness in his surgically-repaired knee from the previous off-season. Also, Cardinals' previous call-up Mark Adams will get his second straight start at first base.

Here is a sneak peak at the lineup that manager Mike Matheny has inserted for the game tonight:

1. Rafael Furcal (shortstop)
2. Matt Carpenter (third base)
3. Matt Holliday (left field)
4. Carlos Beltran (right field)
5. Yadier Molina (catcher)
6. Matt Adams (first base)
7. Tyler Greene (second base)
8. Shane Robinson (centerfield)
9. Jaime Garcia (pitcher)

Cards' spread confident vibes following Berkman injury

Following previous reports that had stated that Cardinals' slugger Lance Berkman had just torn ACL muscle, now it has been determined that he has a meniscus tear instead--which is good news, if there really is any good news in this situation.

The vibe going around the clubhouse instead Busch Stadium and with the Saint Louis Cardinals following the news that he will miss at least six to eight weeks is that the team needs to continue to stay positive. First place is currently still ours, and it's something that no matter tha current injuries the team has, every player in uniform should have that in mind.

This team, which is now only just a half game ahead of the Dusty Baker-led Reds of Cincinnati for first-place, has been plagued with injuries all season and honestly, it hasn't seemed to phase them one bit yet--as they are 22-19 on the season.

The offense has been without the likes of Lance Berkman, Jon Jay, and Allen Craig--all of which have missed time all together at once--as well as still not having a single pitch thrown from CY Young canidate Chris Carpenter, Kyle Clellan, and a few others.

If there is one thing that is for sure, it's that this team has been injury-bug bitten big time.

Although there really is never any bright sides of injuries such as the one that Berkman has, but it certainly makes it a special thing to have the sort of depth that Cards' GM John Mozaliek and his front office have in certain needs of time like the exact one going on.

The front office did a great job following the departure of long-time future first-ballot hall-of-famer Albert Pujols', and secretly just now being known, planned ahead for it. As well as the offense has done--and many people I have been around talking baseball with say it's just early-season and won't continue, I whole heartedly disagree.

It's something that I have put a lot of thought into about losing players such as an Albert, or a superstar that has normally been the guy holding the team together--and this one got me to thinking.

Craig just returning from surgery may be the best thing to happen to this team. Now with his reappearance, Berkman will be getting replaced by the likes of Craig, who not to forget, hit three home runs in his first World Series appearance last season during the magical title run.

Carlos Beltran, who has always been a majorly-annoying but amazing Cardinal-killer, was a huge acquisition to the ball club, and has been nothing short of amazing for the team this season.In forty-one games so far, has accounted for thirty-nine hits and a team-lead thirteen home runs--as well as scoring twenty-eight runs scored driving in thirty-three RBIs.

The definite goal for the success of this team's season hinges a lot on the health of a few key players--as well as sticking to the motto that Tony La Russa always had the Cardinals playing--"Always play a hard nine.".

The team has a lot of veterans, as well as rookies and project players that have an awful lot of potential to do damage all season long--even through injuries.

The pitching staff has been quitely improving as well. Coming from a staff that was filled with a lot of question marks entering this season, including having two ace's that started injured, and a few hole's in the bullpen, they sure have come a long way.

Lance Lynn has been the main ingredient in the equation, as in seven starts so far, he has posted an overall record of 6-1 with an earned-run average of 2.31.

Lohse, Westbrook, Gacia and Wainwright all have combined for a total of fourteen wins, and have helped a Cardinals pitching staff that has the majors' fifteenth best earned-run average of 3.65 in a total of 365 innings-pitched. The pitching staff has given up 148 earned-runs and has struck out 297 batters while walking just one-hundred eleven walks--with 23 quality starts.

Despite all of the injuries that have been going on with this team, the Cardinals are definently only going to get better. Injuries haven't slowed this team down early-on, and although as it has been said it really is early on, the depth on this team should and will get stronger and better as the chemistry and health continues to improve.

Despite recent slump; Cards will continue to improve

The Cardinals are the high-potent offense are the reason
that this team is turning heads all around the baseball world.

The St. Louis Cardinals aren't having the best stretch of baseball that they have had this season, but thanks to pretty incredible baseball throughout the first month and a half of the season, it certainly isn't the end of the world for the 2012 season here in St. Louis.

The Cardinals enter tonights game at Busch Stadium against the San Diego Padres with the slightest lead they can have for the Central division, a half-game, over division-rival Cinninnati Reds.

Following rumors of first baseman and veteran Cardinal Lance Berkman suffering an ACL tear, reports have come to find it was a torn minsicus, which will require him to miss six-to-eight weeks. This is most definently takes a lot of weight off the fans and the front officr, despite him still missing til likely August at the very lesst.

This team has come out of the gates firing early this season, and is derservingly, catching fans and the medias eyes.  David Freese and Matt Holliday both have provided a lot of power for the lineup this season--and it doesnt help that we are seeing an MVP type start from veteran signee Carlos Beltran, who leads the team in home runs so far.

Injuries have plagued the start so far, but even so, the team is still leading the Central division with an overall record of 22-19.  Manager Mike Matheny and his Cardinals just got swept for the first time of the year last night following the loss on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN against the Los Angeles Dodgers.



Your 2011 World Champions ceremony before the first
game of the 2012 season inside Busch Stadium against the Cubs.

Thus far through 41 games this season, the Cardinals' pitching staff have no doubtedly been getting the job done. In 365 innings pitched, they have an impressive 3.56 earned-run average and have been solid in every spot whether it be the starters, the bullpen, and the closing role that is owned by Jason Motte.

Coming from a role thats current ace is still recovering from tommy-john surgery (Adam Wainwright) and another (Chris Carpenter) who is out with a elbow injury, they sure have been intimidating.

Kyle Lohse, Jake Westbrook, and Jaime Garcia have all been more than average, with Wainwright slowly regaining his former form before surgery. But the suprise of them all is Lance Lynn. Lynn, who went into spring training fighting for the number five starting spot, is 6-1 through seven starts and has an impressive ERA of 2.31.

The offense overall has been the number one unit in the National League and number two in all of baseball behind only the Texas Rangers. They are averaging 5.1 runs per contest through these first 41 ball games.

Rafael Furcal has done an amazing job securing the leadoff spot in the rotation, as he is batting an overly impressive .352 with a .472 on-base percentage, behind only slugger Matt Holliday (.479). Beltran is having in my mind the best of his career. He is handling the pressure of being a huge centerpiece to this team as he is batting .291 with a team-leading thirteen home runs and 22 runs batted in.

David Freese, Allen Craig, Tony Cruz, and Yadier Molina have all been above average at the plate thus far this season also--and both Matt Carpenter and Daniel Descalso both are tied for the team and National League lead with three apiece. The Cardinals are certainly not the best team through there first forty-one games, but they are improving--and best of all, slow and surely getting more healthy.
I know it is still early and still the month of May, but watch out for this team as they are only going to get better.

How good is this Cardinals offense? Pretty darn good!

With the numbers and statistics that this offensive unit has put up through a little over thirty games, the question that comes to mind is are they really this good? The answer is that they most certainly are.

Who would have known that all of this would have happened and not even seemed to show? Not even a little bit whatsoever? To all the people that doubted this team and especially the offense following the departure of Albert Pujols, I hope you are all eating crow, and not the good tasting kind, either.

Thus far in the 2012 season, the offense is ranked number two in just about every offensive statistics category that there is--and the only team that has better numbers offensively than the Cardinals?--there 2011 World Series opponent, the Texas Rangers. They have been tearing the cover off of the ball, and even though they have had to deal with quite a few injuries so far, it hasn't seemed to slow them down, not even at the slightest bit.

Holding an overall record of 20-11 and being in first place in the National League Central division, the Cardinals offense has managed to put up an overall team batting average of .287, a total of 312 hits, 168 runs batted in, 40 home runs, and a league leading .357 on-base percentage.

A huge factor in the offenses' success this season has been leadoff man Rafael Furcal. Unlike a lot of years in the past--especially recently, the Cardinals haven't had a very reliable leadoff hitter like him--and since they've had Rafael, the team has won a world series title and has had one of the leagues' scariest offenses. On the season, Furcal has a batting average of .361, 44 hits, 23 runs scored, and six stolen bases along with two home runs.

Furcal succeeding this well in that spot has set the table for the big bats plenty of times this season, and has helped make this offense all that much scarier.

The power bats have been a great story early on, and they continue to get stronger. Carlos Beltran has proven to be a monster pickup so far, as he is suprising everybody around the baseball world as he has a team-leading ten home runs and 27 runs batted in. He is also second on the team in stolen bases with five.

David Freese has continued his magical story from last seasons postseason as he has started this season off with seven home runs and 26 runs' batted in himself. The story early on this season has most certainly been the Cardinals' power and with Lance Berkman only having played in seven games so far, it is hard to believe that they won't continue to get even better.

Allen Craig, Matt Holliday, and Jon Jay also are big time contributors for the team coming from the outfield, which has been a very strong unit for this team. Despite Craig missing the first few weeks following offseason surgery, Jay missing time because of an injury, they all are starting to know there roles very well. Craig seems to have returned to last seasons form following three World Series home runs, he has already hit four this season, and is off to a .333 batting average through his first twenty-seven at-bats. His role once Berkman is no longer a Cardinal will be first-base, which is a position he has been pretty good at since hes been on the team.

Yadier is also off to another .300 batting average start; and even though his defense and cannon for an arm has been his main intangibles; his bat is really starting to become a force to be wreckoned with at the catcher position.

The young guys have been very good as well. Matt Carpenter was a big suprise early on in the season as he has a team-leading three triples and twenty-one hits in just 78 at-bats.

This team is just starting out and will only continue to get better as the health issues start to increase. No matter what the doubters and naysayers continue to say about this offense, they will only get better, stronger, and even more scary as this marathon of a season rolls on.

Cards honor La Russa; face Atlanta at home (Lineups)

The first-place Saint Louis Cardinals open up a three game series against the Atlanta Braves at home inside Busch Stadium tonight for a 7:15 pm Central Time first pitch. Before the game will be a ceremony to honor all-time Cardinals' great Tony La Russa, who is the winningest manager in Cardinals' baseball history.

Although many people expected tonight to be the return of slugger' Lance Berkman, the organization decided to wait to activate him following warmups when he decided it'd be best. Manager Mike Matheny stated during the teams' batting practice that he will more than likely return tomorrow; but that will depend as well.

The game tonight between the first-place Cardinals and the second-place Atlanta Braves will feature a pitching matchup of the Cardinals' Jaime Garcia and the Braves' Mike Minor. The game will deliver the first pitch at 7:15 pm Central Time and will be televised on FOX Sports Midwest. Here is a look at the lineup that the manager has put together for tonight's contest:

1. Rafael Furcal (shortstop)
2. Jon Jay (centerfield)
3. Matt Holliday (left field)
4. Carlos Beltran (right field)
5. Allen Craig (first base)
6. Yadier Molina (catcher)
7. Matt Carpenter (third base)
8. Tyler Greene (second base)
9. Jaime Garcia (pitcher)

Looking back at the amazing career from Tony La Russa

He was much more than just a coach and manager to everybody that is apart of this sacred family that we call Cardinal Nation. He was a brother to everybody in the front office management, a father to many players, and an icon and hero to many, many fans.

That man, Tony La Russa, is one of the all-time greats to ever manage not only the Saint Louis Cardinals, but also one of the all-time greats to ever manage the game of baseball.

In sixteen seasons as apart of the Cardinals, tonight will be a very special night for him—and for the players and fans. Before the first pitch of the Braves game, the team will conduct a special ceremony to honor him, and number 10 will be retired and officially forever remembered and seen when going into Busch Stadium, also known as “Baseball Heaven”.

During his decade and a half-long tenure sporting’ the Birds on the Bat, La Russa brought home three National League championship pennants, as well as two World Series titles (2006 and 2011).

In them sixteen seasons, Tony carried an overall amount of 1,408 wins through a total of 2,591 games—and did it with a lot of passion. He may not have always had a smile on his face, but he certainly was smiling on the inside at all times, twenty-four-seven.

He was the manager that I myself grew up watching—and for that, I am very blessed. Not many fans in my era of baseball can say they got to grow up watching such a previliedged manager that knew how to get the job done like Tony, but us Cardinals fans do—and that is one thing that WE do not take for granted.

He took over the Cardinals in 1996, following an eighteen year tenure in the American League in which he managed both the Chicago White Sox (8 years) and the Oakland Athletics (10 years). Before coming to the Lou, he won three pennants with Oakland, which included one World Series title over there as well.

He is still to this date the only manager in MLB history to win a World Series title in both leagues of the American League and National League. In thirty-three seasons managing, he totaled with 2,728 wins, six pennants, and three World Series championships.

Pretty impressive huh? I would most certainly have to say so—and I would have to say that the record books for MLB history would most certainly have to agree with me on this as well.

From 1996 to 2011, La Russa finished with seven National League Central division titles, three second-place finishes, and just six times in which he finished in third or worse—with fourth place being the worst that he had ever finished in the division with the team.

He had his own attitude and coaching style, and it will never be forgotten in Saint Louis. Although it certainly did sadden everybody that he decided to retire from the team and the sport, he left a lot of memories and history in ‘Baseball Heaven’ throughout his career. He was the one manager that no matter who was on his team, he somehow always got the best out of them.

He could take a team that had very little confidence heading into the postseason, and within minutes he could have everybody feeling confident enough to win it all (2006 and 2011 teams were perfect examples).

For a manager that will go down as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and a guy that the opponents didn’t like much but every player that played for him loved (aside from a few), there was no better way for him to go out than he did. If there is one word to describe Tony as a manager and as a Saint Louis Cardinal forever, it would most certainly be the word; CHAMPION. Thank you for every Mr. La Russa. You may be retired now, but you will always be a very special part of this sacred family here in Saint Louis.

Defending Champion Cardinals will only get stronger

The defending World-Champion Saint Louis Cardinals have had one heck of a roller-coaster ride going on over the past seven months and counting--but the puzzle is starting to piece itself together all on it's own--and for me, and everybody else in the world to see.

Many people were under the impression that losing Mr. Albert Pujols was going to put this team into a sleep hold that would knock them out completely--but in all reality--the organization, the team, the players, the city, and the fans are all making it the exact opposite--they are going for greatness.

In an off-season that sent away a player that has imprinted his name all over the Cardinals' record and history books, as well as a manager that did the same, that era came to an abrubt end. While it left many of us heart broken and saddened, it also gave a reality dose to all of us fans and people assosicated with the sport of baseball, that it is indeed nothing more than a business.

With that said, 'Cardinal Nation' is a family. Sure, it's also a business at the same time, but when you are a Cardinal--fan, player, worker, employee, or anybody that is associated with the organization--you're apart of a sacred family that has made Busch Stadium earn the infamous name of "Baseball Heaven".

This season, the story is being wrote, except right now is just the beginning. One era ended, but another one has started. The eleven time world champion Cardinals' don't rebuild, we are currently showing the baseball world that we most certainly do reload.

Through thirty games in the new season, the team is 19-11, which is currently atop the standings in both the NL Central division, and the entire National League.

Injuries have occured a lot more often than we all would like, but it hasn't seemed to slow this team down at all--not even one bit. Nevermind the fact that the team hasn't even seen a single pitch from a yearly Cy-Young candiate in Chris Carpenter, or that Adam Wainwright was out for a couple of weeks still fully recovering from elbow surgery, or the fact that the offense had been without Allen Craig, Lance Berkman, Skip Schumaker, and Jon Jay all for an extended period of time--forget it all, because it's only going to get better from here on out.

Matheny is building a great atomsphere here in "Baseball Heaven". Sure, it is certainly different from the hard-nosed baseball that La Russa (one of the greatest managers of all-time) had the team playing, but all-in-all, it is entertaining--and it's getting the job done as well.

The Cardinals' offense is ranked number two in all of the Major Leagues in categories all across the board. The team has scored 167 runs, which at the moment, only ranks behind the Texas Rangers' 170 runs. Also, the team has totaled up 487 total bases thus far, which is second in the ML as well. They have tallied 297 total hits on the season, and lead the majors with an impressive total of eleven triples.

Carlos Beltran has turned out to be an amazing pickup thus far, which has been a big reason why the team has been this good. Along with stellar defense that he has displayed, he has hit a team-leading ten home-runs and twenty-seven RBIs.

Beltran was indeed a great pickup. He compliments the legend that was born last October, David Freese, to a T. Freese has continued his story with an electric start to the 2012 season as he is batting .295 with seven home-runs and twenty-six RBIs (which both rank second on the ball club).

Leadoff man Rafael Furcal has made a huge impact as he has 44 hits so far. He also has drove in fifteen runs, and hit two home-runs--which isn't bad at all coming from the leadoff spot in the lineup.

Although Berkman has missed some time due to injury (and is scheduled to be back on Friday against Atlanta), Allen Craig has come back from off-season surgery and hasn't been bad filling in at his future spot at first-base. Getting Craig's bat will add a lot of much-needed power, which will only be a bonus. So far, in just seven games, Craig has hit three home runs and driven in eleven runs. He is once again looking like he could be a 30 home run, 100 RBI man very soon in the near future.

As for the pitching staff, they have been very impressive as well. In fact, they have been soley a huge reason for this current 19-11 start. Considering they haven't gotten a single start from Carpenter yet--and Wainwright just now starting to look like he's gained his old form again--this staff of guys has been lights out.

Through thirty games so far, the team has tallied the second-best earned-run average as it is down to an overall of 3.11. The only staff that has been better in the Majors this season has been Washington, who's being led by the young sensation of Stephen Strausburg and who's ERA is a very impressive 2.64. The Cardinals are tied for eighth in the league with twenty quality starts, and have an impressive opponents batting average of the MLB's sixth best overall, at .234.

Cardinals pitching staff on the season through 30 games played. The team has allowed an MLB best just ninety-two runs as well.

Lance Lynn has been the big story of the entire team so far. In six starts total, Lynn is 6-0 with an ERA of 1.40. He has pitched thirty-eight and two-third innings (which is second most on the team) and has given up just six earned runs and three homers on a team-low from starting pitchers, twenty-two hits.

Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook have also brought it to start the young season as they have combined for nine wins in thirteen starts. Adam Wainwright, who has made six starts since returning from a year-long layoff, is finally starting to regain his old form. After starting sluggish, he has won two straight games. In thirty-three and two-thirds innings, Waino has allowed twenty-one runs on thirty-six hits.

The team still has some money to spend, and with the club finally starting to get healthy, there is a lot to look forward too. Rumors are still spreading that free-agent starting pitcher Roy Oswalt could still be a possibility--and it could become a big time addition with Carpenter expected to come back eventually.

No matter how good of an individual that you are, or have been for that matter, you will never be as big as the logo that is reprensented on the front of the jersey in Saint Louis--and the boys of summer in "Baseball Heaven" are showing just that.

Cardinals aim for sweep of DBacks' tonight (lineups)

Mike Matheny and the defending World Champion' Saint Louis Cardinals have yet to complete a sweep this season--but tonight, they will get another chance when they meet up against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third and final game of the three game series.

They currently own the National League's best record overall at 19-11 and are an impressive 11-7 on the road. The Cardinals enter with an overall stretch of 6-4 over the last ten games, including a current three-game win streak. Meanwhile, Arizona enters at 14-17, trailing the Dodgers by five-and-a-half games in the West, and are 4-6 in there last ten games.

Saint Louis will send Kyle Lohse to the pitching mound tonight, where in six starts this season, is 4-1 overall with an impressive earned-run average of 2.11 in 38 and one-third innings pitched.

On the other side of the stat sheet and dug, will be Wade Miley for Arizona. On the young season, Miley is 3-0 with an impressive earned-run average as well of 2.33.

Here is a look at the lineup that Mike Matheny has put together to try and complete a sweep of the Diamondbacks:

1. Rafael Furcal (shortstop)
2. Carlos Beltran (right field)
3. Matt Holliday (left field)
4. Allen Craig (first base)
5. David Freese (third base)
6. Tyler Greene (second base)
7. Shane Robinson (center field)
8. Tony Cruz (catcher)
9. Kyle Lohse (pitcher)

Tonight's contest will begin at 8:40 pm Central Time and will be televised for Saint Louis on FOX Sports Midwest. Also, here is a free link to a live streaming of tonight's contest. Enjoy. Click here to watch!

World Champion' Cardinals Baseball Update (tcobb)

Sorry for the absense of running the blog lately, it has been rather hectic week in the household and I haven't been able to get much computer time lately. My apologizes for the no shows but this will not be a usual occurance.

Anyways, how about them defending World Champions? The Cardinals seem to have hit there stride this current week. After losing the first two games in Houston, the past three games, the offense has managed to plate twenty-three runs total--during a three game win streak.

Carlos Beltran ended his slump at the plate recently too--including two seperate games in which he hit two home-runs and managed to drive in six runs in one, and seven in another. In last night's 6-to-1 win over Arizona, he hit two home-runs in the first two innings of the game--a two-run shot in the first, and a grand slam in the second inning. Then last week when the team defeated the Pirates 12 to 3, he hit two homers in the first three innings, and had a career-high seven RBIs.

Lance Lynn has managed to stay perfect, as he is now 6-0 in six starts on the young season. He has an earned-run average of 1.46 and has yet to allow more than five runs in a start--and has some gaudy-good numbers this season.

Here is a look at the Cardinals' past seven games in which occured during my absense:

Game 24: Saint Louis Cardinals 12, Pittsburgh Pirates 3

W-Lance Lynn -- L-AJ Burnett

Game 25: Pittsburgh Pirates 6, Saint Louis Cardinals 3

W-Erik Bedard -- L-Jake Westbrook

Game 26: Houston Astros 5, Saint Louis Cardinals 4

W- Lucas Harrell -- L-Kyle Lohse -- S-Brett Myers

Game 27: Houston Astros 8, Saint Louis Cardinals 2

W-Bud Norris -- L-Jaime Garcia

Game 28: Saint Louis Cardinals 8, Houston Astros 1

W-Adam Wainwright -- L-JA Happ

Game 29: Saint Louis Cardinals 9, Arizona Diamondbacks 6

W-Lance Lynn -- L-Joe Saunders -- S-Jason Motte

Game 30: Saint Louis Cardinals 6, Arizona Diamondbacks 1

W-Jake Westbrook -- L-Ian Kennedy

The Cardinals remain atop of the National League and the National League Central division as they hold an overall record of 19-11 entering tonight's contest on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Saint Louis has a chance to complete there very first sweep on the 2012 season.

Tonight's contest, which begins at 8:40 pm Saint Louis time, will feature a pitching matchup of the Cardinals' Kyle Lohse, and the home-hosting Diamonbacks' Wade Miley. The game will be televised on FSN Midwest, and I will post lineups prior to the contest.

Beltran's big night leads Cardinals past Pirates, 12 to 3

Carlos Beltran did it all at the plate, Lance Lynn did it all on the mound, and the Saint Louis Cardinals powered there way past the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night by a score of 12-to-3.

Beltran stated on Tuesday night following the series opening win that he wanted to show more discipline at the plate. Well, he did more than that less than twenty-four hours later. He went 4-for-5 from the plate, including two home runs, and seven runs' batted in--and the scary part, he did all of the damage through just the first three innings.

Lance Lynn also continued his perfection--except with him, it was on the mound. He improved his record to 5-0 on the season as he lasted six and two-third innings, giving up two runs on just three hits, dropping his earned-run average to an overall impressive 1.60.

The Cardinals offense has been hitting in bunches lately. Following Tuesday night's ten run and thirteen hit night--tonight, they racked up the score sheet with twelve runs on a season-high seventeen hits. Beltran took over the team lead in both home runs and RBIs as he now as seven bombs and has drove in eighteen.

Also getting in on the action tonight for the Cards' were Matt Holliday, leadoff man Rafael Furcal, and Daniel Descalso. Holliday drove in two runs, while both Furcal and Descalso drove in one each.

By the end of the third inning, the team was leading by a score of 12-to-1, as they scored four runs in the first, three in the second, and five in the third.

As for the Pirates, they continue to get owned by the Cardinals--and that is just an understatement.

Pittsburgh tallied up just seven hits while scoring only one run. Clint Barmes brought home Pedro Alvarez in the top half of the second inning on a double to center field. Both Alvarez and Jerry Harrison finished the game with two hits--and Harrison came in in a double switch as he pinch hit and moved into the game at second-base.

The Pirates starter AJ Burnett had his roughest, shortest outing yet. He lasted just two and two-third innings, allowing all twelve runs on twelve hits. He dropped his record to 1-2 overall on the season, and had his earned-run average jump up to 8.04 overall.

On the bright side for Pittsburgh, if there exactly was one for this game, was certainly there bullpen. Following the outing from Burnett, the Bucs used four guys in relief, as they pitched five and one-third innings of work, giving up not a single run on five hits. Lincoln, Resop, Cruz, and Grilli all came in.

The Cardinals once again have another opportunity to sweep an opponent tomorrow as the teams end the three game series at 12:45 pm Central Time. The game will be locally televised on FOX Sports Midwest and

Pre-Gamin' with T-Cobb: Lance Lynn aims for perfection against AJ Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates (Lineups) - 5/2

Lance Lynn (4-0) aims to continue perfection tonight against AJ Burnett and his Pittsburgh Pirates, while the Saint Louis Cardinals look to win yet another series this season when the two division-foes meet up for the second game in the three game set in Busch Stadium.

The Pirates (10-13), who are 5-9 on the road this season, look to get some revenge on Saint Louis as the Cardinals poured on a hitting clinic last night in the teams 10-to-7 victory in front of another sell-out Cardinal Nation crowd.

As for Saint Louis, they enter tonight's contest with just one-series loss all season long, which came to the hands of there division-rivals, the Chicago Cubs.

Lynn enters the game still perfect at 4-0 on the season, and will be making his second start of the season against Pittsburgh. In his first start against them on April 20th, Lynn went seven innings, picking up the win after allowing just one run on four hits. Opponents are batting just .176 in twenty-seven innings against him this season, as he has given up a team-low sixteen hits and just four runs.

Here is a sneak peak at the lineup that Cardinals' manager Mike Matheny is putting on the field for tonight's game:

1. Rafael Furcal (shortstop)
2. Jon Jay (centerfield)
3. Matt Holliday (left field)
4. Carlos Beltran (right field)
5. David Freese (third base)
6. Yadier Molina (catcher)
7. Matt Carpenter (first base)
8. Daniel Descalso (second base)
9. Lance Lynn (pitcher)

The game will begin with the first pitch at 7:15 and will be televised on FOX Sports Midwest. For those of you that cannot watch on local TV, the link below will be for a free online stream of the telecast.

click here to watch the game live!

Holliday, Freese lead Cards to 10-3 win over Bucs (5/1)

In what started out as a pitchers duel, turned into an all out slug fest in the series opener in St. Louis between the first place Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Matt Holliday and David Freese had big nights at the plate and Adam Wainwright got himself into the wins column for the first time since September of 2010, as the Cardinals defeated the Bucs 10-to-3.

Wainwright went seven innings deep on Tuesday, giving up four earned runs on five hits. He struck out five batters, but walking two hitters and only walking one--but giving up two deep balls to the Pirates' hitters.

Holliday finished the night with three hits in five at-bats, including a solo home run in the sixth inning; while David Freese went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in the fifth that scored both Holliday and Carlos Beltran.

Leadoff man Rafael Furcal hit a two-run home run himself in the seventh inning, helping a Saint Louis offensive attack that finished the night with ten runs and thirteen hits.

Charlie Morton got the lost for the Pirates, as he went four and one-third innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. He downgraded his record overall to 1-2 on the season--as he walked just two batters, but struck out five.

Allen Craig had an RBI and two hits in his debut following his rehabbing from knee surgery that was performed last fall following his three home-run World Series performance last season.

Jason Motte made quick work of Pittsburgh in the ninth inning for his fourth save of the season, as he threw just eleven pitches in the inning, giving up just one hit, and striking out two.

The Cardinals will be sending Lance Lynn to the mound on Wednesday, as he looks to stay perfect (4-0) on the season, and will go head-to-head with the Pirates starter' A.J. Burnett at 7:15 pm Central Time. The game will be televised on FOX Sports Midwest, with pregame starting up at 6:30.