With the series moving to St. Louis for three games deadlocked the pressure was on both teams. Suppan and Washburn take the hill for their respective clubs and the expectations were for some offense.
This game was pressure packed until the final outs as the Angels put on a late rush but were turned away with the bases loaded in the top of the 9th, failing to capitalize and walking away 4-2 losers.
The Angels opened the scoring in the 2nd with 3 singles in the inning, but like the rest of the series the failed to get the big inning when given the chance.
The Cards took advantage in the 3rd with Suppan helping his own cause with a single, scoring on a 2 out triple by Grudzielanek. Suppan was running with the pitch and scored easily ahead of the throw from Garret Anderson, getting a start in center due to Finley’s ineffectiveness and Rivera’s solid play in the LCS.
In the 5th Suppan again helped himself out by bunting Nunez over to second which allowed him to score on the former Angel Eckstein’s single to left. Again clutch batting helps out the Cards as with 2 outs Pujols doubles to left scoring Eckstein. After 5 innings the Cardinals held a 4-2 lead.
Suppan pitched a gritty and gutsy game with 8 solid innings. The ninth was exciting as Suppan was pulled in favor of Isringhausen. Isi got the first out and then it got exciting. The fun began with a single for Juan Rivera (with him going 4-4 for the game), followed by singles by Erstad and Kennedy. With the bases loaded and only 1 out, the Angels pinch hit for the pitcher with Robb Quinlan who promptly hit into a 1-2-3 double play to end the game. Once again the Angels lack of clutch hitting came back and bit them with the Cardinals taking a 2-1 series lead with 2 more games on their home field.
Stay tuned!
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