Chris Carpenter was in line for the win after Brendan Ryan’s solo home run in the fifth, but Ryan Franklin allowed the Cubs to tie it in the ninth, only to have the Cardinals come right back in the bottom of the ninth to win 2-1 and reduce the magic number down to four.
Carpenter and Cubs’ starter Ryan Dempster each tossed eight innings with the only run coming from Ryan. With Franklin on to close the game, the Cubs tied the game after getting two hits and sac fly.
In the bottom of the ninth off Cubs’ closer Carlos Marmol, Ryan Ludwick singled to lead off the inning. Former Cub, Mark DeRosa bunted into a force out at second, but advanced to third on Yadier Molina’s single and then scored the game winner on Ryan’s single.
Cardinals magic number down to four
September 19, 2009 By
NW Missouri State, Central Missouri win
September 19, 2009 By
Two of Missouri’s nationally ranked Division II football schools won on their home field Saturday afternoon as NW Missouri State beat their longtime rival and the Mules took care of another nationally ranked team.
Northwest Missouri State running back LaRon Council ran for three scores and quarterback Blake Bolles passed for two more to lead the sixth-ranked Bearcats to a 37-27 win against Nebraska-Omaha Saturday at Bearcat Stadium.
A capacity crowd of 8,870 – sixth largest in program history – watched Northwest extend its MIAA win streak to 30 games. The Bearcats last conference loss came against Pittsburg State in October of 2005.
Central Missouri, ranked 12 th in Division II held off #11 Pittsburg State 23-14. The Mules jumped out to a 23-0 lead at halftime, but were shut down by the Gorilla’s defense. The Mules remain undefeated.
More to come from both games.
Mizzou rolls to easy win over Furman
September 19, 2009 By
After a slow start by the MU offense, the Tigers got going with the help of a little bit of trickery and it was all downhill running from there as the Missouri Tigers move to 3-0 on the season following their 52-12 win over the Furman Palidans. (Photo courtesy of Bill Greenblatt, UPI)
The offense perked up after Jarrell Jackson’s 24 yard gain from Blaine Gabbert on a first and 24 after Andrew Jones got called for a 15 yard penalty. Two plays later, Gabbert swung a pass behind the line of scrimmage to Danario Alexander who had Jared Perry wide open at the goal line for a 40 yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
On the Paladins next possession, Andrew Gachkar got his first career sack dropping quarterback Jordan Sorrells for a nine yard loss. (Bill Greenblatt, UPI) After a penalty, Furman was left with a 2 nd and 24 from their 28. Two incomplete passes forced a third Furman punt in the first quarter. A catch interference penalty gave Mizzou the ball at Furman’s 48. Gabbert pump faked and hit Jared Perry for his second touchdown on consecutive possessions, just 2:25 apart. It is Perry’s first multi-TD game of his career.
On MU’s first possession of the 2 nd quarter, Gabbert drilled a pass into Perry giving Mizzou a first down at Furman’s 40. Gabbert ran a keeper on the option, bounced off a tackler and motored 40 yards for the touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
On the Tigers fourth possession in a row, they found the end zone again. Gabbert hit Alexander with a 13 yard pass to cap a 10 play, 75 yard drive and the rout was on.
As far as the Missouri defense, Furman came out with the option and play action passes and had some steady gains, but dropped passes and penalties stalled their drives in the first half. The Tiger defense held Furman to just 152 yards in the first half. The Palidans were called for eight penalties for 74 yards.
With 3:55 to go in the first half, defensive end Jacquies Smith, picked off a Jordan Sorrells screen pass and went 43 yards for the score. From their own 23, with 1:10 left in the first half, Gabbert engineered a perfect hurry up drill, going 5 for 5 moving the Tigers down the field in :59 to make it a 42-0 lead after finding Alexander for a 17 yard touchdown. That touchdown was Alexander’s first multi-TD game of his career.
Gabbert played into the third quarter and finished 17 of 25 for 256 yards and three TDs. Perry had seven grabs for 161 yards and Alexander with three catches for 46 yards and two scores.
Furman came out midway through the third quarter with a three play 75 yard drive to break the shut out. The extra point was missed. This came after Sean Weatherspoon striped a Furman running back at the five yard line to kept the shut out in tack on the previous Palidan possession. Derrick Washington capped off a 12 play, 67 yard drive with a one yard touchdown run to make it 49-6. Grant Ressel added a 45 yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Click to listen to Gary Pinkel’s postgame comments.
Scoring Plays
1 st QTR.
MU 7-0 Alexander to Perry, 40 yard TD pass. 7 plays 68 yards.
MU14-0 Gabbert to Perry, 48 yard TD pass, 1 play, 48 yards.
2 nd QTR.
MU 21-0 Gabbert, 40 yard TD run,
MU 28-0 Gabbert to Alexander, 13 yard TD pass, 10 plays, 75 yards.
MU 35-0 Jacquies Smith, 43 yard INT ret.
MU 42-0 Gabbert to Alexander, 17 yard TD pass, 5 plays, 77 yards.
3 rd QTR.
MU 42-6 Sorrells to Maples, 21 yard TD pass, 3 plays, 75 yards.
MU 49-6 Washington, 1 yard run, 12 plays, 67 yards
4 th QTR.
MU 52-6 Ressell 45 yard field goal, 10 plays, 29 yards.
MU 51-12 Uhaa, 2 yard run, 11 plays, 79 yards
Holliday Walks Cards Off With Win
September 19, 2009 By
The Cardinals and Cubs have had some memorable games in their long rivalry, add one more chapter to that as Matt Holiday hits a bottom of the ninth walk off home run to not only beat the Cubs 3-2 but reduce the magic number to six.
Cards starter John Smoltz, who had missed his last start, struggled early in the first giving up two runs, but would settle down after that and would give up no more runs. He would leave in the sixth having given up just six hits while striking out six.
Cubs starter Ted Lilly was also very good, not giving up a hit until the fourth.
The Cardinals would get on the board in the fifth when Mark DeRosa drove in Ryan Ludiwck who had singled to lead off the inning. DeRosa would score thanks to a sacrifice fly by Brendan Ryan.
Matt Holliday was the lead off man in the ninth and would send a 3-1 fastball over the right field wall.
Game two of the series is this afternoon with Chris Carpenter looking for win number 17 against the Cubs Ryan Dempster. Game time is 3:10.
Royals Pound White Sox
September 19, 2009 By
The Kansas City Royals brought out the lumber last night at Comiskey Park as they pound the Chicago White Sox 11-0. Royals starter Luke Hochevar would get his first win since July 25 th , as he would throw a complete game, three hit shutout.
St. Charles native and White Sox starter Mark Buehrle would give up five runs on seven hits over his seven innings of work.
The Royals would score their first run in the third when Miguel Olivo would draw a bases loaded walk scoring Alex Gordon.
In the sixth, Olivo would hit a two run home run to stretch the lead to 3-0. Olivo would do some more damage the very next inning as he would hit a sac fly that would score David DeJesus. Alberto Callaspo would then hit a triple scoring Willie Bloomquist and Billy Butler.
And the Royals were not done, in the eighth, Billy Butler would drive in Luis Hernandez and David DeJesus with a two out double. Miguel Olivo would then hit his second, two run home of the game.
In the ninth, Kansas city would add one more on a solo home run by John Buck.
Same two teams tonight as Dusty Hughes will make his first major league start for Kansas City against Chicago’s Jake Peavy, who will be making his first start since being traded from San Diego. First pitch is 6:05.
