Opening Series News and Recaps

_____________________________________________________________________________

Neither starter factored in the opening day decision, despite both having a decent outing. Tim Stauffer got the nod for the Padres, and he pitched six innings allowing nine hits and two runs, both earned. Carpenter, filling in for Wainwright, led up two runs on two hits in seven innings pitched. However, when Carp left for the showers, it was tied two runs a piece. Holliday hit a solo shot in the eighth, then Franklin came in to blow the save on a solo shot from Cameron Maybin, tying it at three. The Cards failed to score in extra innings, and the Padres won 5-3 on the strength of a two-run eleventh inning. Pujols went 0-4, with three double plays.

The Friday after Opening Day, Matt Holliday, who went three for four the previous day, had an emergency appendectomy. Dr. Chris Eagon of Washington University performed the surgery, and all went well. His timetable for return is extremely uncertain however, as appendectomies could keep you out from two weeks to a whole season. Tony started Allen Craig in left the next day, then Jon Jay on Sunday. LaRussa is yet to decide whether he will platoon the two, or pick a starter to fill in. 

The Padres stomped the Cardinals 11-3 on Saturday. Jake Westbrook pitched just 4 and a third innings, allowing six hits, five walks, and eight earned runs. When you do something like that, your ERA will spike to 16.62. Not the greatest way to start the year for Jake. Pujols went 2-4, the only Cardinal with more than one hit, including a homer.

St. Louis got the first win of the season out of the way with a 2-0 victory over the Padres on Sunday. Jaime Garcia did exactly the opposite of what he did in spring training and pitched a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts. He held the middle of the lineup (Cantu, Ludwick, Headley, Denorfia, and Maybin) hitless, with only Bartlett, Hudson, Hundley and Mosely getting a hit. Pujols went 0-4 again; him and Rasmus were the only ones in the Cardinals lineup without a hit.

_____________________________________________________________________________