Adam Wainwright was the final Cardinals pitcher in the rotation to get a start this spring. He still has some work to do to be prepared for the regular season, as to be expected. The Cards lost 8-5 to Tampa Bay on Monday. Unfortunately for the Cards, Izzy did not pitch the ninth.
The day got off to a great start as best buds Tony La Russa and Adam Kennedy got a chance to catch up. Tony told reporters, "I'm going to say what I said all along: Nothing personal about him. I have great respect for him, personally and professionally. This was not a situation that I thought, based on a couple years where he wasn't absolutely sure he was in the lineup that day and he wasn't comfortable with it, that was going to be the situation. So, we just corrected it."
To which Kennedy succinctly replied, "I think we all know that's not true."
Well... doesn't that just sound like a heart-warming reunion. I think I might cry. Kennedy for the most part ignored his ex-teammates, but I can see La Russa and Kennedy crossing paths in the halls right now:
Kennedy: So you kick me out and play outfielders on the infield?
La Russa: That's how bad you were. Jerk. We were gonna call Murphy down from the bullpen to play second before we would give you another chance.
Kennedy: Yo momma La Russa. At least I'm not as bad as Rasmus. By the way, nice sunglasses choice for this nice cloudy day, Tony.
La Russa: Rasmus is my favorite. And these are my favorite sunglasses. Jerk.
The two old friends then went to give each other a hug when Tony tripped and accidentally punched Kennedy square in the nose. Twice. Then Oquendo tripped too. So did a few fans. Murphy then ran in and stopped the fight long enough to smack Kennedy with his lucky cup. Then it was game time.
This La Russa/Kennedy friendship is so touching. I bet after the game the went to the golf course together. And probably hit each other with clubs til one of them got a golf cart and tried to run the other over. Best friends...Anyway, back to the game.
Wainwright went two innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk. He'll be ready come opening day. In more pitching news, Blake Hawksworth struggled coming out of the pen; he gave up three runs on five hits in three innings. Josh Kinney and Trever Miller both pitched perfect innings, with Miller striking out the side against his ex-club. Closer-in-training Jason Motte pitched one inning and gave up two runs (both unearned) on two hits and struck out two. Kinney, Miller and Motte are all yet to give up an earned run on the spring.
Offensively the Cards big guys of the game were Brian Barton, Nick Stavinoha (pronounced 'Sta-ko-wee-ack') and Rick Ankiel. Barton didn't go deep twice again today, but he did manage a walk, a triple and two runs scored. Stavinoha was two for two with two RBIs and is now hitting .500 at this early stage of the spring. Ankiel was two for three with a double.
Tuesday the Cards square off against the Mets again with Kyle Lohse getting the start looking to improve from his last start. Go Cards.
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