With the NL trailing 1-0 in the top of the 7th inning, Holliday followed former Cardinal Scott Rolen's 1-out single with a single of his own to kick start a rally. A foul-out and walk loaded the bases for Brian McCann's game-breaking two-out double that cleared the bases, with Holliday scoring what proved to be the deciding run. The clutch hit by McCann earned the Atlanta Braves catcher MVP of the game.
Now leading 3-1, NL Manager Charlie Manuel handed the ball to Wainwright. Put in a jam with 1-out when his teammate Holliday misplayed a fly-ball off the bat of John Buck for a double (it hit right in his glove, how's that not an error). But after walking Ian Kinsler, Wainwright coaxed Vernon Wells into a ground-ball force-out. Wainwright then dismantled the Angel's Torii Hunter, getting him to flail aimlessly at breaking ball to escape the inning and preserve the lead. San Francisco's Brian Wilson pitched a perfect 8th, and LA Dodgers closer gave up a lead-off single, but then closed out the game for the boys from the Senior Circuit.



Health is a concern also for 3B David Freese (bone bruise) and Ryan Ludwick(calf) who are expected to come off the DL soon. The timetable is less certain for SP Brad Penny and the discomfort he's been experiencing in his back and shoulder since going on the DL May 22. And there are expectations that SP Kyle Lohse can return by late August from surgery to repair the sheath covering the muscles of his pitching forearm. But that is a rare surgery for a pitcher, and I'm not counting on him to be back and effective this season.
The Cardinal offense has been sickly for most of the first half. The Redbirds have not taking advantage of opportunities, either through poor at bats with runners in scoring position or by getting thrown out on the basepaths. Holliday's bat has always been better in the second half, and Pujols - though not sporting the stats of his MVP seasons - is always a force. Colby Rasmus and Ryan Ludwick have been solid as well. But it's the middle of the infield, and catcher that have created holes in the line-up. SS Brendan Ryan has suffered through a disaster campaign, and lost his job to Tyler Greene. Skip Schumaker at 2B is raising his average, but at .255 for averageand just on-base at a .318 clip, he's been disappointing. And despite being chosen to start in Tuesday's All-Star game, Molina is only hitting .233. Molina and Schumaker have hit in the bigs, and expecting them to improve through the rest of the summer is not out of line.
If Penny can return soon and be as effective as he was before he got hurt, if Jaime Garcia has the stamina to continue his special rookie season, and if the Cardinal offense can string a few hits together this team has Wainwright pitching like a Cy Young winner and a bullpen that can close down the end of a game. With fingers crossed regarding Carpenter, I am optimistic this Cardinal team can take advantage of that extra home game in the Fall Classic and hoist an eleventh Championship Banner on opening day 2012.
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