Friday, September 6, 2002 - At Busch Stadium II (Andy Benes - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago Cubs (Alan Benes - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 38,661
In a rare brother vs brother pitching match-up, older brother Andy got the better of his younger sibling - on the mound and even in the batter's box. Andy's third-inning lead-off single off his kid brother started an amazing eleven-run rally - and just to prove it was no fluke - Andy did it again, with two out, to drive in the sixth run of the inning - which also ended Alan's night. When the dust had settled, the younger Benes (1-1) was charged with eight runs in 2.2 innings - not to mention, his first loss of the season.
Meanwhile, Andy (5-4) pitched the only complete game he'd log in seventeen starts in '02 - allowing two meaningless runs in the last two innings - good for an easy 11-2 win over the Cubs.
The eleven run outburst was just one run shy of tying the franchise record for most runs in an inning - which was tied on July 21, 2012 - in a game at Busch Stadium III against - who else? - the Cubs.
What made this big inning especially unusual - aside from having an opposing pitcher get two base hits off his brother - was the fact that Scott Rolen made the first and last outs - striking out both times. Go figure. Mike Matheny had the distinction of making out number two in the third, when he flew out to right field. Strangely enough, Rolen and Matheny were a combined 0 for 8 in the game, and were the only players in the starting lineup without scoring at least one run - but I'm sure none of their teammates brought up that embarrassing fact in the post game revelry.
Here's what the rest of the lineup did:
Benes - 2 singles - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Vina - 2 singles - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Marrero - 1 single, 1 base on balls - 2 runs scored - 1 RBI
Edmonds - 1 base on balls, 1 double - 2 runs scored - 2 RBI
Pujols - 1 single, 1 double - 1 run scored - 4 RBI
Martinez - 1 double - 1 run scored - 2 RBI
Renteria - 1 base on balls (intentional) - 1 run scored
With this win, the Cardinals improved to 79-61 on the season - 5.5 games ahead of the second-place Houston Astros. They would complete a three-game sweep of the Cubs en route to closing out the season with a NL-best 18-4 record, before sweeping the Diamondbacks in three straight NLDS games.
Alas, they may have been too hot for their own good - cooling off quickly in the NLCS loss to the Giants in five games.
Showing posts with label andy benes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label andy benes. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
July 13, 2000 - Cards Drop 13-Run Bomb on White Sox
Thursday, July 13, 2000 - At Comiskey Park II (Andy Benes - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent: Chicago White Sox (Mike Sirotka - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance: 32,263
Four years and one day after the St Louis Cardinals annihilated the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field - 13-3 - with a franchise-record seven home run attack - the Cardinals dropped another 13-run bomb at Comiskey Park - clobbering the White Sox - 13-5. Four Redbird home runs were a part of the arsenal this time around - giving Andy Benes (10-3) a relatively easy seven-innings pitched win.
The Cardinals wasted no time in getting down to business - scoring a pair of first-inning runs on a pair of solo home runs - the first by Edgar Renteria and the other by Fernando Tatis.
They tacked on three more runs in the third-inning, on an RBI single by Eric Davis and a two-run double by Ray Lankford - to build a 5-0 lead - which grew to 7-0 in the fourth-inning after Tatis hit his second home run of the game - a two-out two-run shot, which chased starting pitcher Mike Sirotka (8-7).
In the fifth-inning, with Kevin Beirne now pitching for the White Sox, the Cardinals got something going after two were out. After Mike Matheny singled to left, Shawon Dunston doubled down the left field line, and when left fielder Carlos Lee bobbled the ball, Matheny was able to score an unearned run. Although Dunston wasn't credited with an RBI this time, he more than made up for it his next trip to the plate - in the seventh-inning.
Before that, however, the White Sox were able to score a run in the sixth-inning - on an RBI single off the bat of Paul Konerko - driving in Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, who had doubled previously.
Heading into the seventh-inning with an 8-1 lead, the Cardinals sent ten batters to the plate - starting with a lead-off single by Eric Davis, who would strike out to end the inning. In between, Ray Lankford followed Davis' single with one of his own - then one out later, Mike Matheny walked to load the bases. At this point, White Sox manager Jerry Manuel replaced Beirne with Jesus Pena - whose first pitch to Dunston was promptly deposited into the left field bleachers, for a grand slam home run. The Cardinals added another run on a Jim Edmonds sacrifice fly that scored Fernando Vina from third, to build a very comfortable 13-1 lead.
After Benes allowed another run in the bottom of the seventh, manager Tony LaRussa gave him the rest of the night off - bringing in Mike James to work the eighth-inning - who gave up a solo home run to Chris Singleton. Then, Heathcliff Slocumb made it through the ninth, after being touched for a couple more cosmetic runs.
In the end, every Cardinal batter in the starting lineup - except Craig Paquette - had at least one hit and scored at least one run. With one swing of the bat, Dunston had 4 RBI - Tatis drove in three - Lankford added two more RBI - while Renteria, Edmonds and Davis had one apiece.
Missing from the lineup was a gimpy-kneed Mark McGwire, who was still the number one power source for the Cardinals this season - but they had plenty to spare tonight.
Four years and one day after the St Louis Cardinals annihilated the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field - 13-3 - with a franchise-record seven home run attack - the Cardinals dropped another 13-run bomb at Comiskey Park - clobbering the White Sox - 13-5. Four Redbird home runs were a part of the arsenal this time around - giving Andy Benes (10-3) a relatively easy seven-innings pitched win.
The Cardinals wasted no time in getting down to business - scoring a pair of first-inning runs on a pair of solo home runs - the first by Edgar Renteria and the other by Fernando Tatis.
They tacked on three more runs in the third-inning, on an RBI single by Eric Davis and a two-run double by Ray Lankford - to build a 5-0 lead - which grew to 7-0 in the fourth-inning after Tatis hit his second home run of the game - a two-out two-run shot, which chased starting pitcher Mike Sirotka (8-7).
In the fifth-inning, with Kevin Beirne now pitching for the White Sox, the Cardinals got something going after two were out. After Mike Matheny singled to left, Shawon Dunston doubled down the left field line, and when left fielder Carlos Lee bobbled the ball, Matheny was able to score an unearned run. Although Dunston wasn't credited with an RBI this time, he more than made up for it his next trip to the plate - in the seventh-inning.
Before that, however, the White Sox were able to score a run in the sixth-inning - on an RBI single off the bat of Paul Konerko - driving in Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, who had doubled previously.
Heading into the seventh-inning with an 8-1 lead, the Cardinals sent ten batters to the plate - starting with a lead-off single by Eric Davis, who would strike out to end the inning. In between, Ray Lankford followed Davis' single with one of his own - then one out later, Mike Matheny walked to load the bases. At this point, White Sox manager Jerry Manuel replaced Beirne with Jesus Pena - whose first pitch to Dunston was promptly deposited into the left field bleachers, for a grand slam home run. The Cardinals added another run on a Jim Edmonds sacrifice fly that scored Fernando Vina from third, to build a very comfortable 13-1 lead.
After Benes allowed another run in the bottom of the seventh, manager Tony LaRussa gave him the rest of the night off - bringing in Mike James to work the eighth-inning - who gave up a solo home run to Chris Singleton. Then, Heathcliff Slocumb made it through the ninth, after being touched for a couple more cosmetic runs.
In the end, every Cardinal batter in the starting lineup - except Craig Paquette - had at least one hit and scored at least one run. With one swing of the bat, Dunston had 4 RBI - Tatis drove in three - Lankford added two more RBI - while Renteria, Edmonds and Davis had one apiece.
Missing from the lineup was a gimpy-kneed Mark McGwire, who was still the number one power source for the Cardinals this season - but they had plenty to spare tonight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)