Cardinals vs Rockies Wild Game 1

It's rare to see 17 runs scored in a game at Busch Stadium, buts that's not the only strange thing to happen in the series opener last night. Yet again last night, the Cardinals gave up a home run to the opposing pitcher. With two outs and a runner on, Cardinals lead at 4-2, Carlos Martinez grooved a pitch to the Rockies pitcher Chris Rusin who hit a home run to tie the game.

Negatives: Carlos Martinez was not good last night. C-Mart gave up 10 hits for 5 ER in just 5 innings pitched. He seemed to lack the energy he usually pitched with, just couldn't get himself fired up. I don't think this will be a concern for the future, just didn't have his best stuff that day. Also with an off day, Randal Grichuk was not seeing the ball well in the outfield as he misread two fly balls that ended up dropping in front of him that he would normally catch. He also missed the cutoff man on two of his throws home, giving the Cardinals a worse chance of getting the runner out at home. I also do not see concern of this in the future, as usually Grichuk is a very good defensive player, and was just having some trouble as some of the other Cardinals had. And Kevin Siegrist needs to learn how to throw a ball to a base. Last night, he fielded a bunt and turned to throw it to first base, but it was low and towards the outside of the bag and gave Moss no chance to catch it. Later in the inning he had a guy picked of at second base and made a bad throw to Matt Carpenter, and the runner scored. He also threw away a potential double play ball about a week ago, and with this issue, I do see future concern and this is definitely something that Siegrist needs to work on. Last night another possible run was given away when with two outs Jason Heyward rounded third base on a triple and got tagged out for out number three, just a mental mistake.

Positives: Matt Carpenter went 4-5 with 2 home runs, a double and 4 RBI. After a hot start to the 2015 season, Carpenter has struggled hitting when not in the leadoff spot of the lineup. Last night he was in the leadoff spot and hit very well, I expect him to not be moved from that spot. Also a guy that was struggling was Jhonny Peralta, who had 2 hits last night including a two RBI single that tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning. Both were a big part of the comeback with Carpenter getting it started with a double in the last inning and Peralta tying the game. I believe and I hope that this was the game that gets the both of them back on track.

And of course with everything happening last night the game couldn't end with a normal walk off hit but a walk off walk. This was Greg Garcia's second career walk off that wasn't a hit, he also got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in a tie game last year against the Cubs. The Cardinals came back from an 8-6 deficit in the 9th inning to win it and in my opinion was one of the best wins of the year because it happened after two straight loses and the Cards just kept battling back after making mistakes. I can't wait to see what game two of the series brings!

Bucky T