I read somewhere that LaRussa wanted to save Mulder for the heavily RH Phillies lineup, but I'm guessing it also has to do with letting the fans see Mulder pitch his first game in a Cards uni, and letting Mulder be a part of the insanity that is the Cardinals Home Opener.

Yahoo sports is showing that the batting order goes:

Eckstein
Walker
Pujols
Rolen
Grudz
Edmonds
Sanders
Molina
Marquis

uh..... why is Grudz batting before Edmonds? He's right handed and it sets up a R-R-L-L where having him bat behind edmonds would give the preferred R-L-R-L.

weird.

I'm guessing that's a typo. I heard an interview with TLR before the game where he said his lineup would be the same as yesterday.

Nice try by Eckstein on the bunt attempt, but he didn't push it far enough---nice play by Ausmus, but still too easy.

Walker stands so close to the plate that the called third strike on the corner almost hit him...

Great defense so far by the Cards.

Only 14 pitches for Pettite so far. At this pace, he'll be able to give the game directly over to Lidge.

nope it was grudz, edmonds. Back to 3Nights but this is the result of a decision making process that shows manic attention to detail? If he's just kind of throwing stuff out there OK, but I'm to understand that he's put a lot of thought into this?

I'm not impressed.

On pace for a 63-pitch complete-game no-hitter...

Andy: It's awesome that you have a blog for a minor league team. In case you guys aren't looking at author links its: http://drillersblog.blogspot.com/ it's a rockies franchise but it's wicked cool.

That curveball Marquis's been working on reminds me of Ben Sheets', a lot of hard downward action. Of course, he can't get it over the plate, but it looks cool.

"If walker has to take a half step back that's scotts first career home run"

30 seconds later:

"Marquis is throwing really well"

uh.....

almost 40 pitches through 1.2 If it weren't for Molina throwing out the runner it'd be even worse.

At least he isn't walking anyone.

Man, that 3.71 ERA Marquis posted last year is pretty impressive considering he has nothing approaching a functional breaking ball.

Josh: Thanks for the compliment.

Marquis looked as if he walking the last few steps. It seemed to be in slow-motion.

Pettitte: 25 pitches through three.

Damn XM for publishing their schedule on Eastern Time... *grumble*

What's with the scheduling of these two games? 6 and 4 PM Central aren't ballgame starting times I'm used to....

I unfortuantely am watching the Houston feed for the game. Breaking news: The guy who operates the giant train in the outfield is afraid of heights. Developing story....

Len: I love these start times, If they start later I have to either work late, come home late, or miss the middle of the game.

There goes the no hitter.

Grudz up, two outs, two on.

Don't you wish it were edmonds?

They say Edmonds is 1/23 against Pettit, and you know how Tony loves to play those small sample size matchups, so Grudz is in the five hole.

If edmonds homers in the 5th i'm going to cry.

Reggie's looking to match his April of 2004, hopefully he keeps it going this time.

Odd year! Go Reggie. (The brewers won today so the Cards are chasing first).

I wonder when Molina will get his first hit?

Edmonds' 1-for-23 vs. Pettitte is probably almost all pre-2000, and he's taken his hgame to a completely higher level since then, including a .330 avg. vs. lefties in 2004.

on Molina: Hopefully soon. I was thinking the same thing. It's not like he's never played in the majors, but if he doesn't get one soon the 'scared rookie' song is going to start and we might be subjected to veteran leadership in the form of Einar Diaz...

Pulse!

Not the debut you'd like to see.

2 batters, a single and a sacrifice bunt.

If grudz was batting behind Edmonds this double switch would be even better....

Marquis ended up with 9 hits over 6 innings, 4 k's and one walk. Not a bad ERA but a lot of base runners. He did throw 10 groundballs to 3 fly balls, so maybe his singer was on.

Now the Astros sideline lady is interviewing Lou Diamond Phillips and he's hitting on her. This is great.

hahaha, Get it Lou!

This is now the fifth time in the last seven innings the Astros have had at least 2 on with fewer than 2 out....

damn. How close was edmonds?

Gee, Tony...you think?

That seemed like a poor defensive play by edmonds. It seemed as if he was trying to do the spectacular catch but just wasn't close enough.
A 3-run lead seems big enough for Lidge.
LaRussa can easily be second-guessed for a lot of his moves today.

Tavarez faced 8 batters: Single, ground out, ground out, walk, (sac bunt), single, triple, single.

Good thing we have 5 other guys in the bullpen with an off day tomorrow.

I didn't think Edmonds was anywhere near the ball... it seemed like he took a bad cut-off route but he had no chance... If he'd run back at an angle toward the wall he might have cut if off and held Lamb to a double, but instead, he ran straight toward where the ball bounced, then had to turn and chase it.