Cardinals Weekend News

Here is a quick run down of all the Cardinals news from this past weekend:

• The Cards beat the Astros on Saturday, 8-5. The Cards had 7 doubles and 2 homers in the game. The HRs were from Julio Lugo and Ryan Ludwick. Chris Carpenter pitched solidly for the most part, but was still a little shaky at times. He gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in his 3 innings of work, but also struck out 5 batters. And the 2 runs were scored on one mistake when he left a fat pitch over the plate to Astros rookie Chris Shelton.
• Albert Pujols was back in the line up Saturday and looked to be in good shape. He ripped the first pitch he saw in the 1st inning on a line to center for a single. He doubled down the line in his second AB and walked in his final plate appearance before giving way to a pinch runner.
• The Cards won again on Sunday beating Washington 7-3. The pitching match up was a doozie as Wainwright was set to duel against Nats phenom Stephen Strasburg. Adam Wainwright worked 4 innings and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits. Pujols, who is taking it easy, took Sunday off and Allen Craig filled in for him at first base. Craig went 2-5 and drove in a run.
• I know Colby Rasmus has been off to a hot start this spring (.364, 2 HR, 7 RBI), and he was in the clean up spot in the order today, but Washington was overly careful with the cheese man on Sunday. Colby walked in all 4 of his plate appearances.
• There is a stupid rumor going around from 'inside sources' that the Phillies offered the Cardinals a trade - Howard for Pujols. This is ridiculous. Both the Cards and Phillies deny the report...obviously.

Finally, it appears that one of the possible candidates for the Birds' 5th starer has been passed on. Mitchell Boggs pitched in the 9th inning on Sunday, and that may have been for a reason.

"I like him as a reliever, we're not really looking at him as a starting pitcher," pitching coach Dave Duncan said. "We think he can be an impact reliever for us. He has a power sinker, and he's got the making of a real good slider. If he's had any problems, its a little inconsistency, but based on the latter part of the season last year, where he really came around and was throwing good, we got real excited with the potential of him being a real impact reliever."

Who's still up for the job? Hill?...Garcia?