LaRussa’s moves cost Cards game in 10th

The Cardinals couldn’t sweep the Dodgers after Matt Kemp’s two out, two run single in the 10 ^th inning off reliever Todd Wellemeyer gave Los Angeles a 5-3 win Thursday night.

There are times when Tony LaRussa manages the team into a loss and Thursday night was one of those examples.  In the 10 ^th inning, LaRussa lifted Ryan Franklin after he retired Manny Ramirez.  Franklin pitched a perfect 9 ^th and after the out to Ramirez had thrown just 13 pitches in an inning and a third.

So, with the pitcher’s spot due up first in the bottom of the 10 ^th , LaRussa decided to replace his closer with Dennys Reyes to face the lefty Andre Ethier.  Reyes walks the lefty then gives up a single to Casey Blake.  After a wild pitch, the Dodgers had runners on second and third.  James Loney struck out, and LaRussa then called on Wellemeyer who hung a slider to Matt Kemp who lined the ball into left to score the decisive runs.

I can’t get into LaRussa’s head, but I’m assuming he pulled Franklin after 13 pitches so his closer would be available for Friday’s game?  I say, take care of the game at hand and then adjust accordingly tomorrow.  Franklin cruised through four batters, why not stick with him and finish out the 10th?  Then use a pinch hitter and have Wellemeyer start fresh in the 11 ^th if needed. 

Adding to the frustration, LaRussa said he didn’t want Wellemeyer to come in and have to pitch around Kemp, while light hitting Brad Ausmus waited on deck.  Another head scratching sequence of moves from LaRussa.

The Cardinals earlier in the game, got home runs from Matt Holliday, his first as a Cardinal to which he received a curtain call from the fans.  Rick Ankiel tied the game at 3-3, with his long home run to right field in the bottom of the 7th.   Ankiel had a chance to be a hero in the 8 ^th inning.  With the go-ahead run on third base and two outs, the Dodgers elected to walk Albert Pujols and Holliday to bring up Ankiel to face lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo.  Ankiel went down swinging at three fastballs out of the zone to end the threat.

With the loss, the Cardinals slip a half game behind the surging Cubs who have won 11 of 14 out of the All-Star break.