La Russa might have La Russa’d himself into a hole in Game 3. With a runner on second and two outs, the Cardinals manager walked Carlos Ruiz intentionally to get to Ben Francisco.
Cardinals vs. Phillies: Ben Francisco’s Three-Run Homer Breaks Up Pitchers’ Duel
Maybe La Russa wanted to face Francisco, and maybe he wanted to make sure that Cole Hamels left the game. The only thing we do know is that the decision was a bit of a dirigible accident. Francisco pinch-hit for Hamels and drove a hanging sinker over the left-center wall to break the scoreless tie and give the Phillies a 3-0 lead in Game 3.
Jamie Garcia was moseying along in this game, averaging -3 pitches per inning through the first five innings, but when he reached the sixth, the Phillies made him work. And when he came out for the seventh inning, the Phillies made him work a little bit more before Francisco’s home run came on Garcia’s 90th pitch of the game.
The Cardinals now have to go against Vance Worley, who is in for Cole Hamels.
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