Archived MLB '12: Cardinals Summaries

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Cubs Pull Away Late And Get 4-2 Victory​

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Opening day for the Cardinals was a disappointing one. Kyle Lohse got the opening day start and he performed well but the same can't be said for the Cardinals' defense. St. Louis had 2 errors and numerous other fielding mistakes. This would hurt early as the Cubs and Paul Malholm would take an early 2-0 lead. The Cards would answer back and tie the game at 2-2 in the 4th behind a double from Yadier Molina that scored Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman. It would stay that way until the bottom of the 7th when the Cards brought in Marc Rzepczynski. Marc would struggle mightily and the Cubs would add on 2 runs. The Cards couldn't get anything going in the 8th or 9th as Chicago would hold on for the win. ​

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Bud Norris Pitches 2 Hitter in 6-0 Win​

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This was an ugly game for Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals. The Cardinals couldn't do anything against Bud Norris and had a hard time telling the difference in his pitches. Of the 2 hits, 1 of them was by Chris Carpenter so the rest of the offense got just 1 hit. Pitching-wise, Carpenter struggled some and had a hard time keeping the Astros off base. This game was never competitive.​

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Cards Pick Up 1st Win Behind Dominant Wainwright​

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Adam Wainwright took the mound in the Cards 3rd game of the season and it was like the days of old for him. He pitched a 3-hit shutout against the Pirates with 6 strikeouts. Offensively, the Cards offense finally showed signs of life against Charlie Morton. Every position player but Carlos Beltran had a hit and the Cards would score 6 runs in the first 4 innings. The 6-0 victory was St. Louis' first of the young season.​

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Cards Explode in Extra Innings To Win 7-2​

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Jaime Garcia and Yovani Gallardo faced off in Milwaukee for this early season matchup. The Cardinals were able to get an early lead as Garcia was dominant. With a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th, St. Louis brought in Jason Motte for his first save attempt of the season. It would not be though as the Brew Crew tied the game and sent it to extra innings. Despite just 2 runs in the first 9, the Cards offense would come together in the top of the 10th. St. Louis would bat around and put 5 runs on the board and then close it out in the bottom of the 10th to bring the Cards to 2-2.​

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Reds Win Pitchers Duel In 10 Innings​

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It was the 2nd straight extra innings game for the Cards though it was an ugly game for both offenses. Jake Westbrook faced off against Mat Latos. Latos would go 9 innings with 13 strikeouts and no runs allowed but couldn't get the complete game or shutout as Westbrook would go 8 innings with just 3 hits and no runs. In the top of the 10th though, Fernando Salas was pitching the Reds had C Mesoraco hit double and LF Heisey would follow it up with a triple to score Mesoraco. Chapman and Marshall would close it out in the bottom of the 10th.​

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Cards Rebound In San Diego, Get Back To .500​

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Chris Carpenter got his 2nd start of the season and was dominant this time. The Padres couldn't get anything going offensively which was very fortunate for the Cards as their offense continued to struggle. Carrying just a 1-0 lead into the 9th, the Cards opted to pinch hit for Carpenter with 2 outs and the bases loaded. Allen Craig came in and delivered. He hit a bases clearing double to push the lead to 4-0. Jason Motte came in for the non-save situation and shut down the Padres without issue.​

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Cardinals Offense Falls Apart Again​

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Not much to say about this one. Kyle Lohse got the start and he was very good. It was bad luck for him though as the Cards could do nothing against Jon Niese. Niese didn't get the shutout but the Mets did beat the Cards 2-0.​

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Poor Start Costs The Cardinals Another Game​

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It took just 2 batters for this game to be over. Juan Pierre drag bunted the opening pitch towards 3rd base. David Freese missed it and Adam Wainwright picked it up. Unknown to Wainwright and the Cards though, Pierre was on his way to 2nd. A bunt double to start the game. On the very next pitch, Placido Polanco drove a pitch to the left field warning track and Matt Holliday dropped it allowing for an extra base hit. Wainwright managed to get out of the inning but would allow another run in the top of the 2nd. For the Phillies, Vance Worley got the start and he killed the Cards with his curve ball throwing it nearly 60% of the time. St. Louis kept chasing it though as they were shutout 2-0 for the 2nd straight game.​

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Cardinals Get Shutout In 3rd Straight Game​

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Jaime Garcia matched up against Jair Jurrjens in Atlanta. Both were great in a pitchers duel but this was a disappointing loss for St. Louis. The Cards outhit the Braves 8 to 3 but suffered a 1-0 loss. The key moment came in the 4th inning when Garcia hung a curve ball to Dan Uggla. Uggla would connect on it and hit it deep and out of the park. This loss puts the Cards down at a record of 3-6.​

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Cardinals Offense Starts To Come Around In San Francisco​

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The Cardinals finally got back in the win column when Jake Westbrook and Matt Cain met at AT&T Park. After 29 straight scoreless innings, the Cards would get on the scoreboard when Rafael Furcal hit a home run that just cleared right field wall near the foul pole. The Cards would score again in the 7th inning when Daniel Descalso drove in David Freese on a fielders choice. And the Cards would push it to 3-0 in the 8th as Holliday would double and Lance Berkman would drive him in. The Giants would answer in the bottom of the 8th to bring it back to 3-1 but that would be the final score.​

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Cardinals Lose A Heart Breaker In The 21st Inning​

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Chris Carpenter made his 3rd start of the season and was top notch yet again. For the Cardinals though, his 8 scoreless innings weren't enough. The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the 4th or 5th when Lance Berkman would hit his 2nd home run of the season that just cleared the center field wall. Then onto the bottom of the 9th, Jason Motte would come in and try for his 2nd save of the season. Instead, Motte picked up his 2nd blown save. The Padres would tie it and push it to extra innings. In the 14th, St. Louis would take a 2-1 lead only to have the Padres tie it yet again in the bottom of the inning. In the 15th, Matt Holliday would give the Cards their 3rd lead of the game with an opposite field homer off of the foul pole. The Cards would find more trouble in the bottom of the 15th and would end up walking in the tying run. Out of relievers, the Cardinals would end up turning to Kyle Lohse. Lohse did well but Jason Bartlett would hit a game winning RBI double in the bottom of the 21st for a 4-3 win.​

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BobJr Emmdotfrisk sdid22 - This game didn't count on the schedule.​

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The Skid Continues In Arizona​

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Still feeling the effect of the 21 inning game in San Diego, the Cardinals were forced to turn to Kyle McClellan as the starter. Offensively, the Cards were actually looking good early and took an early lead from a solo Yadier Molina homer to left field. In the 4th inning though, McClellan would struggle some and give up 3 runs. The main one being a 2 run blast from Justin Upton. McClellan stuck it out though and put in 6 crucial innings. The Cards would have numerous opportunities to score runs and added another in the 7th, but could never get in that tying run and would lose 3-2.​

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BobJr Emmdotfrisk sdid22 - This game also didn't save.​