Lopez to the Rescue
Felipe Lopez was too late to the ballpark Saturday to remain on Tony La Russa's lineup card. Sunday he arrived just in time.
The Cardinals third baseman turned on a two-out pitch for his sixth home run to break an 11th-inning tie and deliver a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The win allowed the Cardinals to end a three-game losing streak and avoid an embarrassing sweep against their struggling rivals. It also allowed Lopez to end a challenging weekend on a high note.
Lopez had not pushed a ball from the infield in 10 previous plate appearances during the series. His game-winner came five innings after first baseman Albert Pujols forced a 3-3 tie with his 23rd home run and 389th of his career.
The Cardinals finished with 15 hits but lost three outs on the bases and failed to score despite three consecutive hits in the 10th inning.
Ryan Franklin (5-1) gained the win in return for two of the bullpen's four scoreless innings. Dennys Reyes picked up his first save since April 9, 2009.
Chris Carpenter received no decision in return for allowing three earned runs in seven innings. He also vented at plate umpire Bob Davidson after losing Cubs catcher Geovany Soto to a leadoff walk.
"I think the first four or five innings it was leadoff guy, leadoff guy, leadoff guy. I couldn't get that leadoff guy out. I started to get myself in trouble at the get-go every inning. I was upset about that," said Carpenter, who complimented Davidson on his outing when asked if he had an issue throughout his start.
Sunday's win returned the Cardinals to first place. They have at least shared the NL Central lead on 10 different occasions through 99 games.
Other details:
Left fielder Matt Holliday extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 10th-inning single. Holliday is hitting .341 during the streak with three home runs and 11 RBI.
Starting in center field a second consecutive game, Jon Jay contributed two hits and two strong defensive plays. Jay is hitting .473 in his last 20 games.
Second baseman Skip Schumaker produced four hits and a walk. The night lifted his average from .252 to .262.
Shortstop Brendan Ryan had two hits for a second straight game. He also stole his eighth base in addition to being caught stealing. Ryan played a strong defensive game, with six assists and a short-hop pick of Yadier Molina's throw to stop Tyler Colvin's first-inning steal attempt.
Pujols' first-inning walk was No. 877 for his career, moving him past Ozzie Smith into sole possession of second place on the team's all-time list.
Manager Tony La Russa has scheduled Adam Wainwright to pitch Tuesday's series opener against the New York Mets with Jaime Garcia following Wednesday. Jeff Suppan is listed for Thursday's finale.
Pujols Restores Tie with a Blast
Previously hitless for the series, first baseman Albert Pujols forced a 3-3 tie when he reached Cubs starter Ryan Dempster for his 23rd home run leading off the sixth inning. The blast was Pujols' fifth career shot against Dempster and represented the Cardinals' first home run of the series.
The home run also allowed Pujols to snap an 0-for-12 skid that had covered the Cardinals' three-game losing streak.
Pujols now owns 389 career home runs and is on pace to reach 400 before season's end.
Cubs Take Fifth-Inning Lead; Carp Steams
Given a 2-0 lead on Skip Schumaker's second-inning single and Brendan Ryan's two-out roller, Chris Carpenter lost in order his shutout, his temper and his lead in a two-inning span against the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs drew within 2-1 on Marlon Byrd's broken-bat hit in the fourth inning then took a 3-2 lead in the fifth after Carpenter vented at plate umpire Bob Davidson about his strike zone following a leadoff walk of catcher Geovany Soto.
Manager Tony La Russa interceded, preventing Carpenter from being ejected. However, second baseman Ryan Theriot immediately reached Carpenter for a game-tying triple to right-center field. Shortstop Starlin Castro then plated Theriot with a two-out single.
Cubs starter Ryan Dempster has been anything but efficient but faced only nine hitters from the third through the fifth innings.
Mozeliak Raises Odds of Pitching Move
At about the same time the Los Angeles Angels were announcing their acquisition of Arizona Diamondbacks ace Dan Haren, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak was attempting to lower expectations of the club's ability to land a premium starting pitcher before next Saturday's non-waiver trade deadline.
"We're continuing to explore a number of things, it doesn't look great right now," Mozeliak said.
This wouldn't be the first time the Cardinals front office has downplayed the possibility of a deadline deal. However, Haren's removal from the trade market likely makes the asking price in personnel for Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt too high for the Cardinals' tastes. A club source indicated Saturday that the Astros' discomfort trading Oswalt within the NL Central likely makes a match impossible between the two rivals.
"Certainly, nothing is imminent at this time," Mozeliak said after giving an impromptu update to manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan in the visitors dugout.
The Cardinals are acutely interested in how Kyle Lohse's Monday rehab start at Triple-A Memphis progresses.
At the same time, Mozeliak admitted he is increasingly pessimistic about Brad Penny's ability to contribute this season after suffering a muscle tearn in May. Penny has not thrown since shutting down after feeling discomfort during a simulated game in Colorado almost three weeks ago.
Mozeliak said it would be impossible to project Penny's return this season if he has not made significant progress in 3-4 weeks.
While the club concedes adding a starting pitcher is its primary goal, Mozeliak insists its plan is flexibile. Sentiment exists with the organizaton to add a hitter and possibly a lefthanded reliever.
"I don't think we're far enough down the road that we've lost the ability to redirect our focus," Mozeliak said.
For now, the Cardinals have three starting pitchers -- Jaime Garcia, Jeff Suppan and Blake Hawksworth -- yet to pitch into the eighth inning this season. Asked if that represents a potential concern, Duncan conceded, "I'd have to say yes."
Flip Back in Lineup
Manager Tony La Russa insisted Sunday afternoon that two tough days for infielder Felipe Lopez does not represent a permanant seat in the manager's doghouse.
Asked about any possible ramifications following a Friday meeting with Lopez about his play and late scratch Saturday due to his tardiness to the ballpark, La Russa said succinctly, 'He's in the lineup, isn't he?"
Indeed Lopez is, leading off and playing third base.
General manager John Mozeliak arrived at Wrigley Field this afternoon and said he would speak to Lopez but had not yet discussed the matter at length with La Russa.
"My take is that it's been handled. But I'd like to discuss it with the manager before saying much more about it," Mozeliak said. "I will say that we hold our players to a certain standard and that everyone is accountable for his actions. I'll leave it at that."
Lopez, who had no comment on the matter Saturday, waved off a reporter's follow-up Sunday, saying, "Some things are better off staying in [the clubhouse]."
Dempster Diving
The Cardinals attempt to avoid a three-game sweep tonight before a national televison audience when they send Chris Carpenter (11-3, 3.05) against the Chicago Cubs and Ryan Dempster (8-7, 3.70). The Cardinals should like the spot, since Carpenter is 10-3 with a 2.73 ERA in 18 career starts against the North Siders, including a 7-1 win at Wrigley on May 28.
Manager Tony La Russa has returned Felipe Lopez to third base and the leadoff role after scratching him less than an hour before Saturday's start due to punctuality problems. Jon Jay receives a second consecutive start in center field as Ryan Ludwick remains in right field.
Dempster took a 9-1 loss against the Cardinals May 30, when he needed a season-high 125 pitches to clear 6 2/3 innings. The six earned runs he allowed that day remain a season-worst. Skip Schumaker is a career .400 hitter (14-for-35) against Dempster and Albert Pujols (.310 against Dempster) has reached him for four home runs in 42 career at-bats. Matt Holliday is 6-for-12 in his career versus Dempster.
The rest:
Cardinals
3B Felipe Lopez
RF Ryan Ludwick
1B Albert Pujols
LF Matt Holliday
CF Jon Jay
2B Skip Schumaker
C Yadier Molina
P Chris Carpenter
SS Brendan Ryan
Cubs
RF Tyler Colvin
SS Starlin Castro
1B Derrek Lee
3B Aramis Ramirez
CF Marlon Byrd
LF Alfonso Soriano
C Geovany Soto
2B Ryan Theriot
P Ryan Dempster
