Myers: Casting a shadow
(c) Associated Press
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Maybe the Cardinals could use Roy Oswalt after all. With Joel Piniero gone and Kyle Lohse on the DL, the Redbirds were reduced to starting retread Jeff Suppan on Saturday night and even the punchless Astros chased him on their way to a 4-1 victory. Suppan is now 0-5 with a 6.55 ERA on the season.
Brett Myers was in control throughout, giving up one run and five hits with no walks over eight solid innings to even his record at 6-6. Matt Lindstrom picked up his 21st save after walking a pair to put some last-inning drama into the contest.
Pedro Feliz stroked a two-out two-run single in the first then Humberto Quintero drove in Hunter Pence to give Myers an early 3-0 lead. Jeff Keppinger, who doubled in the first-inning rally, drilled a solo shot to left in the fifth for the final tally.
While Oswalt is getting all the trade attention, the Cardinals ought to be interested in someone like Myers who has gone at least six innings in all 18 of his starts this season (the only MLB pitcher to do that this year) and dropped his ERA to 3.41 in the process. He's proving to be one of Ed Wade's best acquisitions yet.
Wandy Rodriguez (6-10) gets the last start before the All-Star Break when he pitches Sunday afternoon in the 1:05 Central series finale. Canadian Blake Hawksworth (2-5) will get the ball for the slumping Redbirds.
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