07.14.2009 10:09 pm
Howard Has Shot At Glory — And Whiffs
Ryan Howard got his opportunity to be a hometown hero.
With two out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Adrian Gonzalez drew a walk from reliever Joe Nathan. Orlando Hudson smashed a single up the middle.
With runners on first and third, Howard came up to bat. St. Louisans gave him a nice ovation.
The AL put the Howard Shift on defensively, putting three infielders on the right side. Second baseman Ben Zobrist parked well out into right field.
Hudson took second base, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position.
And then . . . Howard struck out, failing to check his swing on a pitch out of the zone. Ouch.
Howard - Strike outs in 2007: 199 … strike outs in 2008: 199
Pujols - strike outs in 2007: 58 … strike outs in 2008: 53
When the Phillies come to Busch Stadium for a game with the Cards, Howard can’t seem to do anything BUT hit the ball, often out of the park (batting .381 at Busch), but could he hit anything tonight? No! Instead, he did the other thing that he does well–strike out. What a bummer.