Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

Offense continues to sputter, but Cards still lead division by 9 games

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals have been winning without lighting up the scoreboard.

The Cardinals have scored five or fewer runs in 15 of their 23 games in August, yet are 17-6 during the month and lead the National League Central Division by nine games.

After Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa addressed the offense, which is averaging 4.4 runs a game in August.

"I think the thing that's most misunderstood is that if you have a good offense, that you're going to score five, six, seven, eight runs a game," La Russa said. "That's not going to happen. If you face good pitching, they get you out most of the time. Seventy percent of the time at least."

The Cardinals took two of three games from the Astros during the series, yet were just 4-for-27 with runners in scoring position.

On Thursday, the Cardinals were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position against Houston pitchers Brian Moehler, Samuel Gervacio, Tim Byrdak, Jeff Fulchino and Jose Valverde.

"What happens when you have a really good offense like we have, is that you have a chance to score every inning," La Russa said. "Sometimes you break through and different guys break through. If a guy comes out there one day and he's not sharp, that's the day you get them.

"It doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with our offense because we're winning games, and we're winning games with different guys doing it. It just means its tough. That's why you always start with pitching and defense if you want to be a good club."

A fall in Arizona

The Cardinals will send eight players to the Arizona Fall League: pitchers David Kopp, Lance Lynn, Mike Parisi and Adam Reifer; catcher Bryan Anderson; infielder Dan Descalso; and outfielders Daryl Jones and Tyler Henley.

The players will play for the Surprise Rafters, a team comprised of prospects from the Cardinals, Rangers, Yankees, Royals and Mets.

Former Mater Dei High standout and Breese native Jay Voss, a left-handed pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization, was one of eight players sent to Arizona by the Marlins.

Voss, a eighth-round draft pick in 2005, is the only lefty in Class AA Jacksonville Suns' bullpen. Opponents are hitting .178 off Voss (2-0, one save), who has allowed eight runs on 19 hits in 31 innings for a 2.32 ERA. He has struck out 29 and walked 11.

Voss will play for the Mesa Solar Sox, which consists of players from the Marlins, Angels, Cubs, Red Sox and Twins.

Bob Gibson Field

Cardinals Care and the Redbird Rookies program will honor the legacy of Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson today with the dedication of Bob Gibson Field at 9 a.m. in St. Louis.

Bob Gibson Field is at 1515 N. Kingshighway, in Sherman Park at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, and will serve as an integral part of the youth program offered by the Wohl Center located on the park grounds. Sherman Park features a track, basketball court, tennis and volleyball courts, an obstacle course, a children's playground and various athletic fields.

Taking part in the ceremony will be Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III, Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock and his wife, Jackie, and St. Louis parks and recreation director Gary Bess, with Cardinals broadcaster Dan McLaughlin from Fox Sports Midwest serving as master of ceremonies.

Bob Gibson Field will be the 18th baseball field established by Cardinals Care. Earlier this year, the team christened Sportsman's Park All-Star Field at the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club complex.

Odds and ends

Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse threw a bullpen session before Thursday's game and said he felt good. Lohse, who suffered a hamstring strain on Aug. 21, is eligible to come off the disabled list Sept. 6. ... With three saves in the previous four days, reliever Ryan Franklin was not available to pitch Thursday.