The St. Louis Cardinals had significantly less luck in Saturday’s rain delayed game against the Cincinnati Reds, falling 5-3 to their division rivals after the bullpen’s disastrous and rain-lengthened eighth inning. Miguel Batista, Trever Miller, Ryan Franklin, and a critical error by David Freese all contributed to the loss. Albert Pujols hit his seventh home run of the season for the Cardinals in the loss, which gave Chris Carpenter yet another no-decision in the season’s first month.
Batista got the first out on a soft grounder and struck Brandon Phillips out for the second, but in the meantime Drew Stubbs had reached on Freese’s throwing error. Joey Votto was intentionally walked to reach Jonny Gomes, who was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases for Trever Miller. Miller walked Jay Bruce to score the first run, and then Ryan Franklin was placed in an unwinnable situation. Franklin allowed a single to Miguel Cairo to put the Reds ahead for good, and without allowing a single earned run the Cardinals’ older half of the bullpen had engendered more than its usual share of fan rancor.
Aroldis Chapman picked up the win, going two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout. Francisco Cordero picked up his third save of the year for the Reds in the win.