The little things can sometimes come back to haunt you.
Phillies vs. Cardinals: Carpenter Can’t Bunt Or Run, But He Can Pitch
Okay, so you already knew that. But when Ron Darling says it on TV, it really seems to matter, you know?
Or not. Anyway, apparently Chris Carpenter’s pitching so well tonight that he doesn’t feel compelled to do anything else.
Coming up in the top of the fifth with Nick Punto on first base -- Punto having singled, and in the game purely because Tony La Russa loves Nick Punto and other Nick Punto-like players -- Carpenter didn't bunt.
Not well, anyway. He fouled off a couple of sacrifice attempts, falling behind 0 and 2. He did eventually get the bunt down, but it wasn't a real good one. Actually, it was a real terrible one, as Carlos Ruiz stood up, took one step forward, grabbed the baseball on a high bounce, and threw to second base to easily force Punto at second.
Carpenter didn’t run, either. He literally didn’t run, or take even a cursory step toward first base. He stood and watched the double play turned, as if he’d just arrived on these shores and was fascinated by this strange phenomenon.
Hey, maybe Carpenter just wanted to keep the game close. More fun that way.
In the bottom of the fifth, he returned to the mound and set the Phillies down in order.
Maybe pitching is plenty, and after five innings it's still Cardinals 1, Phillies 0.
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