Game #5

CARDINALS 7, BREWERS 1

Jaime Garcia made an impressive debut today with his first start as an official member of the Cardinals' starting rotation, as the Cardinals coast to victory and assure themselves another series win.  Here is the boxscore.  I include the word "official" in there because he has made a start with the Cardinals before in 2008 against the Saan Diego Padres.  That start and some reliable relief pitching from Garcia down the stretch in 2008 proved that he could pitch at the major league level, and it was only a matter of time until Garcia would become part of the regular pitching staff.   Today, Garcia's start was crisp, as the young lefty went six innings, allowed only four hits and one earned run.

Mitchell Boggs, who had been serving as a back up fifth starter for the past couple of years for the Cardinals, has shown his potential as a relief pitcher.  It's only been three innings in total, but they have been three clean innings nonetheless.  Today, Boggs provided two scoreless innings of relief and only allowed one baserunner.  If you remember the games he used to start for the Cardinals, Bogs would pitch with runners on all the time.  Jason Motte closed the game out today with a flawless ninth inning.  As I said in my post yesterday, I did not want to see Tony run him out there in a close game after what happened to him in Cincinatti.  This was the right kind of situation to use Motte in following that walk-off home run.  Give him some confidence, and see if he can get it together and come through in tight situations.  

Yadier Molina got the biggest hit of the game, a three-run home run in a four-run second inning.  Molina's first two home runs of the season have both had high rewards.  This one was a three one shot, and his first one was a grand slam on Opening Day.  Colby Rasmus also hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth.

I don't have a whole lot of thoughts about today's game, so this was a rather short entry.  I'm just happy to see Jaime Garcia pitch  like he did today.  He didn't seem nervous or giddy.  It was like he's been pitching in the big leagues for years.  I have been excited about Garcia since I first saw him up with the team in 2008, and have consistantly said that he will be the real deal.

That's all for today.  Tomorrow's game gets the national spotlight, as it will be ESPN's Sunday Night game of the week.  Chris Carpenter will oppose our old friend Jeff Suppan.

Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.