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Archive for the ‘Pitchers’ Category

Down to last strike, George Hendrick spoiled Reds no-hit bid

Posted in Games, Hitters, Opponents, Pitchers on May 12, 2014| 14 Comments »

For George Hendrick, the combination of a nervous pitcher and a hanging changeup was a recipe for hitting heroics.

george_hendrickOn May 12, 1984, Hendrick, the Cardinals’ cleanup hitter, ruined a no-hit bid by the Reds’ Mario Soto, slugging a home run with two outs in the ninth inning.

Though the Reds recovered to win, 2-1, against closer Bruce Sutter, Hendrick’s home run after Soto got within a strike of a no-hitter got the headlines.

Soto, 27, a right-hander, was in his eighth season with the Reds when he faced the Cardinals on a Saturday afternoon at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium. Primarily relying on a fastball, Soto struck out 10 Cardinals in the first six innings and 12 overall.

Backed by sparkling defensive plays from second baseman Ron Oester, who stopped an Ozzie Smith grounder in the seventh and swatted the ball to first baseman Dan Driessen, and from right fielder Dave Parker, who made a diving catch of Tommy Herr’s liner to the gap in right-center in the eighth, Soto held the Cardinals hitless.

Nervous ninth

With a 1-0 lead, Soto faced Ozzie Smith leading off the ninth. Most of the 24,355 in attendance rose and cheered wildly. Instead of inspiration, Soto felt fear.

“I was too nervous,” Soto told the Associated Press. “I just couldn’t stand it out there. I was nervous after I made the last out in the eighth. I’ve never felt that way before.”

Still, Soto had a promising start to the ninth. Ozzie Smith grounded out and Lonnie Smith popped out to second. That brought up Hendrick, who had entered the game with one home run and a .224 batting average.

Soto got two strikes on the right-handed batter. Hendrick then fouled off a couple of pitches, building the drama. Hoping to induce Hendrick to swing and miss, Soto threw his next two pitches high. Hendrick wasn’t tempted, though, and the pitches were called balls, evening the count at 2-and-2.

Looking to catch Hendrick off-guard, Soto delivered a changeup.

“As soon as I threw the pitch, I said, ‘That’s trouble.’ I hung the pitch,” Soto said.

Hendrick swung at the high, inside offering and walloped it over the left-field wall, tying the score at 1-1.

Nowhere to hide

Soto appeared stricken as Hendrick circled the bases.

“I almost died right there,” Soto said. “I don’t think anybody felt worse than I did. I wanted to leave. I almost walked out.”

Instead, he walked the next batter, Andy Van Slyke, before getting Ken Oberkfell on a fly out to center, ending the inning.

Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog sent in Sutter to pitch the bottom half of the ninth, even though it wasn’t a save situation. With one out, Dave Concepcion singled and swiped second. Brad Gulden, the Reds catcher who began the day with a .103 batting average, singled, scoring Concepcion, lifting the Reds to a 2-1 victory and salvaging the win for Soto. Boxscore

In his next start, Soto pitched a three-hitter and got the win against the Cubs, even though he yielded a two-run home run on a changeup to Jody Davis. “I’d say that three or four of the seven homers I’ve given up this season have come on the changeup, but that’s not going to stop me from throwing it,” Soto said to The Sporting News.

Soto, who three times led National League pitchers in most home runs given up in a season, finished 1984 with an 18-7 record while yielding 26 home runs, second-most in the league and one behind Bill Gullickson of the Expos.

In his last of seven seasons with the Cardinals. Hendrick finished 1984 with nine home runs and a .277 batting mark.

Previously: George Hendrick influenced hitting style of John Mabry

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The strange, short Cardinals career of Memo Luna

Posted in Games, Pitchers, Trades on April 17, 2014| 2 Comments »

(Updated June 26, 2020)

The Cardinals paid $75,000 and gave up a trio of players for a pitcher who netted them two outs.

memo_lunaGuillermo Romero “Memo” Luna pitched in one game for the Cardinals in 1954, failed to complete an inning and never played in the majors again.

A left-hander, Luna was the first Mexican-born player to appear in a game for the Cardinals.

On April 20, 1954, he got the start in his Cardinals debut against the Reds at St. Louis, even though his arm was hurting. In the clubhouse before the game, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported, “Luna smiled his usual pleasant fashion and said his arm felt fine and indicated by widening the grin and slapping his glove that he was ready to go out and do a little pitching.”

The confidence gave way to a shelling.

In the first inning, Luna yielded two runs on two doubles, two walks and a sacrifice fly. He was lifted with two outs. One of the outs came on a fly ball caught by Stan Musial with his back against the wall. Boxscore

“He was pounded so hard … that manager Eddie Stanky would hardly be justified in another such risky trial,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch observed.

The Globe-Democrat declared Luna had “a hard time throwing a nickel’s worth” of the price the club paid to acquire him.

A few days later, the Cardinals sent Luna to their farm club in Rochester, N.Y.

Though he continued to pitch in the minor leagues and in Mexico until 1961, Memo Luna never returned to the majors.

His big-league career totals: 0-1 record, 27.00 ERA, 0.2 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 6 batters faced.

Super southpaw

In 1951, after he was 26-13 for Tijuana of the Southwest International League, Luna was pursued by the St. Louis Browns, but the San Diego club in the Pacific Coast League had a working agreement with Tijuana and acquired him. In addition to his pitching, Luna was a sketch artist. Asked what he sketched, Luna told the Globe-Democrat, “Everything in life.”

On Sept. 23, 1953, the Cardinals acquired Luna from San Diego for $75,000 and players to be named. They eventually sent pitchers Cliff Chambers and John Romonosky and outfielder Harry Elliott to San Diego, completing the deal.

At the time, Luna, 23, seemed worth the price. He had a 17-12 record and a league-best 2.67 ERA with 16 complete games for San Diego in 1953. Jack Bliss, a catcher for the 1908-1912 Cardinals, watched Luna at San Diego and told Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky, “He’s got exceptional control and a good curve.”

Cardinals scout Joe Mathes checked him out and was impressed. Luna is “a great control pitcher with other skills,” Mathes told the Post-Dispatch. “His knuckleball and curve are very good, he has tremendous poise on the mound and is outstanding in fielding his position and holding runners on base.”

That fall, Luna pitched in the Cuban League for Almendares and manager Bobby Bragan. The Cardinals granted permission with the understanding Luna would quit around Dec. 1, The Sporting News reported.

Luna posted a 4-1 record in his first five decisions for Almendares. The Sporting News wrote Luna “has shown remarkable poise and control, plus a fine knuckler.”

After Luna lost his next two decisions as the Dec. 1 deadline loomed, the Cardinals suggested he leave Cuba and rest his arm before reporting to spring training in February. Luna obliged and went to St. Louis, where he passed a physical examination.

While in St. Louis, Luna told the Cardinals that a day in his honor was being planned in Mexico City and he was being asked to pitch, the Globe-Democrat reported. The Cardinals misunderstood, thinking the game was in December, not February, and agreed to let Luna pitch, the Globe-Democrat reported.

Luna went home to Mexico, believing he had the Cardinals’ approval to pitch on Memo Luna Day.

Worn down

On Feb. 19, 1954, pitching for the Mexico City Reds against Aztecas, Luna struck out a batter in the third inning and grabbed his left elbow in pain.

According to The Sporting News, Luna stayed in the game until its completion, yielding five runs and nine hits in nine innings, and “was throwing with only half speed after the injury.” It was the second farewell game he pitched since returning to Mexico. The Cardinals’ front office had approved him to pitch only one, the Post-Dispatch reported.

Luna reported late to Cardinals spring training camp in Florida, complaining of a sore arm.

“We asked Luna to quit pitching Dec. 1, but we have no way of controlling what a man does back in his home country,” said Stanky.

In spring training, Luna failed to impress. He gave up three runs in two innings to the Phillies and surrendered a two-run, game-winning home run to the Reds’ Gus Bell. The Post-Dispatch described his exhibition game efforts as “a sorry spring.”

Having paid a high price for him, the Cardinals put Luna on the Opening Day roster. He got the start in the Cardinals’ sixth game of the season _ and never got another chance with them again.

“Luna, in Spanish, means moon, but only the English version, outfielder Wally Moon, has resembled a star in the making,” the Post-Dispatch concluded.

After Luna’s demotion to Rochester, Bob Burnes of the Globe-Democrat wrote, “Whether he hurt his arm before he started for spring training or whether it was something else, like maybe getting and feeling a little lost in the hustle and bustle of major league work, no one can say except Luna and he apparently can’t explain it himself. If he regains his control and confidence, both of which he must have to win, the Cardinals probably will accommodate him with a second look. If he doesn’t, they’ll probably leave him at Rochester.”

In late June 1954, when asked whether Luna would be a candidate to return to the Cardinals, Rochester manager Harry Walker told the Post-Dispatch, “Frankly, I’d have to consider him doubtful.”

Luna told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, “Could I pitch for the Cardinals? Without the fastball, no. If my arm was not hurt anymore, I can pitch for the Cardinals.”

Said Walker: “His changeup and his curveball are his strong points, but his control has to be sharp or he’s in trouble.”

Luna was 9-11 with a 3.50 ERA for Rochester in 1954.

Used primarily in relief, Luna pitched for manager Johnny Keane with the Cardinals’ farm club in Omaha in 1955 and was 4-4 with a 5.43 ERA. Luna spent a season in the Orioles’ farm system and played the rest of his career in Mexico.

 

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Why the 1964 Cardinals wanted Bob Uecker

Posted in Games, Opponents, Pitchers on April 9, 2014| 8 Comments »

(Updated Sept. 20, 2022)

Embarrassed by their inability to stop the Dodgers from stealing bases and convinced they needed to find a solution in order to win a pennant, the 1964 Cardinals turned to an unlikely source for help: Bob Uecker.

bob_uecker2The second-string catcher couldn’t slow Dodgers speedsters, but he did provide a defensive upgrade to a 1964 Cardinals club that won its first pennant and World Series title in 18 years.

On April 9, 1964, St. Louis sent Gary Kolb and Jim Coker to the Braves for Uecker.

Even then, at age 29, well before he became known as a broadcaster and for his comedy roles on television and in the movies, Uecker had a reputation throughout baseball as a funnyman.

Wrote The Sporting News: “Those who know him regard new Cardinals catcher Bob Uecker as a good-humor man.”

“Yes, I guess you can call me a stand-up type of comic,” Uecker said to St. Louis reporter Jack Herman.

The Cardinals, though, were serious about finding a way to overtake the Dodgers.

Armed for defense

In 1963, the Cardinals finished in second place at 93-69, six games behind the National League champion Dodgers. The Cardinals were 6-12 against the Dodgers and stolen bases were a significant reason for that. The Dodgers were successful on 27 of 33 stolen base attempts (82 percent) against the 1963 Cardinals. For the second season in a row, Dodgers speedster Maury Wills had 11 steals in 12 attempts versus the Cardinals.

“If we have a catcher who can throw well, they might think twice about running,” Cardinals manager Johnny Keane said.

Tim McCarver became the starting catcher for the Cardinals after Gene Oliver was traded to the Braves in June 1963 and his primary backup was Carl Sawatski.

McCarver nailed 38 percent of runners (28 of 73) attempting to steal in 1963 and Sawatski nabbed 30 percent (7 of 23). When Sawatski retired after the 1963 season, the Cardinals went looking for a backup for McCarver.

Uecker spent seven seasons in the Braves’ minor-league system. The Braves had groomed Joe Torre to replace veteran Del Crandall as their starting catcher.

In stints with the 1962 and 1963 Braves, Uecker impressed with his arm. He caught 5 of 7 runners attempting to steal in 1962 and 1 of 2 in 1963.

Office politics

Cardinals general manager Bing Devine was ready to make the trade for Uecker, but club consultant Branch Rickey opposed it, in part, because he didn’t want Gary Kolb to be dealt. Rickey had the support of Cardinals owner Gussie Busch and that gave him a voice in any proposed trade.

In his book “October 1964,” author David Halberstam wrote, “As both Keane and Devine pushed hard for the trade, Rickey resisted with a vehemence out of all proportion to the importance of the players at stake.”

As spring training neared its end, Keane asked Devine to make another attempt for Uecker.

“I’m sorry, Johnny, but I can’t go back there anymore,” Devine replied. “I’ve gone as far as i can go on that one.”

According to Halberstam, Devine suggested that Keane could approach Busch and appeal to him to approve the deal. Keane did and Busch granted his permission.

“We got Uecker to help Timmy and make our catching solid,” Keane said. “We’re certainly not vulnerable behind the plate anymore.”

In Uecker’s 1982 book “Catcher in the Wry,” McCarver said, “Uke really did have some talent. The first thing you looked at was his defensive ability _ his throwing arm and glove. I envied his arm (and) his relaxed, quick hands.”

On his first day with the Cardinals, Uecker was introduced to Rickey. According to Halberstam, Uecker extended his hand and said, “Mr. Rickey, I’m Bob Uecker, and I’ve just joined your club.”

“Yes, I know,” Rickey replied, “and I didn’t want you. I wouldn’t trade 100 Bob Ueckers for one Gary Kolb.”

Then Rickey turned and walked away.

Tough test

The 1964 Cardinals opened the season against the Dodgers at Los Angeles. With left-hander Sandy Koufax starting, Keane put Uecker, a right-handed batter, in the Opening Day lineup. (Uecker, the prankster, posed in a left-handed batting stance for his 1965 Topps baseball card.)

Uecker went 0-for-2 at the plate and 0-for-3 in attempting to prevent stolen bases that night. Willie Davis, Maury Wills and Jim Gilliam swiped bases against Uecker and starting pitcher Ernie Broglio.

“Uecker’s arm was not at fault,” The Sporting News reported. “The Dodgers speedsters just got too much of a jump on Ernie Broglio and the catcher’s strong throws were a little too late.” Boxscore

For the season, the 1964 Dodgers had 11 steals in 14 attempts (78 percent) against the Cardinals, but on July 16, 1964, Wills twice was caught attempting to steal against the Cardinals at St. Louis. McCarver was the catcher. Ray Sadecki was pitching the first time Wills was caught; Mike Cuellar was on the mound the second time. Boxscore

Overall, Uecker threw out 38 percent (8 of 21) of all attempted base stealers in 1964. He was 0-for-5 against the Dodgers; 8-for-16 against the rest of the National League. He hit .198, but his defense and his clubhouse popularity enabled him to stick with the Cardinals throughout the season.

The Phillies and Reds turned out to be the Cardinals’ main competition for the crown. Each finished a game behind St. Louis. The Dodgers were 80-82, in sixth place, 13 games behind the Cardinals.

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Pete Vuckovich was fearless in great escape for Cardinals

Posted in Games, Opponents, Pitchers on April 7, 2014| 6 Comments »

(Updated Jan. 19, 2026)

Facing the defending World Series champion Pirates, Cardinals starter Pete Vuckovich performed a high-wire act in the 1980 season opener.

pete_vukovichVuckovich pitched a three-hit shutout in the Cardinals’ 1-0 victory on April 10, 1980, at St. Louis. It was the first of only two times the Cardinals won a season opener by a score of 1-0. The second occurred March 31, 2014, against the Reds at Cincinnati.

In the 2014 game, the Cardinals escaped an eighth-inning jam in which the Reds had runners on first and third with none out. Boxscore

In the 1980 game, Vuckovich performed a Houdini act by striking out the side with two runners on base in the ninth.

Strikeout pitch

Using a variety of off-speed pitches called by catcher Ted Simmons, Vuckovich retired 14 Pirates in a row between the first and sixth innings.

The Cardinals got a run against Bert Blyleven in the second when Bobby Bonds, in his Cardinals debut after being acquired from the Indians, walked and scored on a George Hendrick double.

Vuckovich held the Pirates to two hits through eight innings, but in the ninth it began to unravel.

Pinch-hitter Lee Lacy led off with a single and Omar Moreno followed with a walk, putting runners on second and first with none out.

“We couldn’t ask to be in a better situation,” Pirates manager Chuck Tanner told United Press International.

Tim Foli, who the year before was the toughest National League batter to strike out, stepped to the plate.

Vuckovich struck him out swinging.

Next up, Dave Parker, who was nicknamed “The Cobra” for his ability to uncoil quickly and lash line drives.

Vuckovich struck him out swinging.

“The pitches were looking good and then the ball would break away,” Parker told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Willie Stargell, destined for the Hall of Fame, followed. With the count 0-and-1, Stargell swung and missed at a low pitch that glanced off the wrist of Simmons and rolled into the Pirates’ dugout, enabling Lacy to advance to third and Moreno to second.

Simmons told the Post-Dispatch, “I went to sleep … The ball hit the dirt, but I could have blocked it.”

Stargell watched the next three pitches sail outside the strike zone, making the count 3-and-2.

“You can’t do anything but respect these guys,” Vuckovich said. “There’s no room for getting scared or nervous because they can sense that, too. If they get that feeling, they can get you.”

The payoff pitch from Vuckovich was a wicked breaking ball. “The ball dropped eight inches,” Vuckovich told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Stargell swung and missed with such intensity his bat flew out of his hands and into the stands. The strikeout of Stargell set off a celebration among the 42,867 spectators at Busch Stadium. Boxscore

Praise from Stan

“I was lucky,” Vuckovich said. “It could just as easily have gone the other way.”

Vuckovich delivered 111 pitches, striking out nine and walking two.

“Today was an emotional drain,” Vuckovich said to the Associated Press.

The performance earned Vuckovich the admiration of everyone who witnessed it.

“Amazing,” Stan Musial, the Cardinals’ all-time greatest player, said to The Sporting News. “He throws the best right-handed breaking pitches I ever saw.”

Cardinals pitching coach Claude Osteen said to Bob Fallstrom of the Decatur (Ill.) Herald and Review, “He has total command. Nobody in our league has as many kinds of pitches and such command. There are guys who throw harder. Vuckovich has so many speeds. He has a changeup, an off-speed slider, an off-speed curve. He has great motion on the off-speed pitches. He knows how to pitch.”

Pirates second baseman Phil Garner said, “Vuckovich gets my vote for Cy Young Award already.”

Vuckovich finished 12-9 with three shutouts and a 3.40 ERA for the 1980 Cardinals. After the season, Vuckovich, Simmons and reliever Rollie Fingers were traded to the Brewers. Vuckovich led the American League in winning percentage in each of his first two years with the Brewers and won the 1982 Cy Young Award.

 

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Cardinals home opener linked Jerry Reuss, Willie Mays

Posted in Games, Opponents, Pitchers on March 26, 2014| 4 Comments »

(Updated April 5, 2022)

St. Louis native Jerry Reuss was 21 when he started a Cardinals home opener.

jerry_reussReuss faced the Giants on April 10, 1971, in the Cardinals’ first home game of the season, but he got derailed that Saturday afternoon by a baseball legend nearly twice his age.

Willie Mays, less than a month shy of his 40th birthday, hit a two-run home run off Reuss, sparking the Giants to a 6-4 victory. It was Mays’ fourth home run in as many games and boosted his career total to 632, 82 behind the all-time leader at that time, Babe Ruth.

Reuss, a left-hander, had debuted with the Cardinals in September 1969. He made 20 starts for St. Louis in 1970, producing a 7-8 record, two shutouts, five complete games and a 4.10 ERA.

After the 1971 Cardinals opened at Chicago by splitting a pair of games against the Cubs _ Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton were the St. Louis starters _ they played their home opener on the day before Easter in front of 26,841 at Busch Memorial Stadium. Reuss was paired against Frank Reberger, 26, a right-hander who had started his big-league career as a reliever.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, it was the first time Reuss had started an opener of any kind, home or away, since he was in high school.

The first time through the Giants batting order went well for Reuss. He struck out Mays looking to end the first. He struck out Willie McCovey to begin the second.

In the third, the game was scoreless when Chris Speier walked with two outs, bringing up Mays. Reuss got ahead on the count, 0-and-2. His third pitch was a fastball. Mays turned on it and sent the ball soaring into the left field bleachers.

“I’m just happy to play,” Mays said to Pat Frizzell of the Oakland Tribune. “Not many guys my age can go out there every day. I hit the pitch hard.”

Reuss told the Post-Dispatch, “He’s hit home runs off better pitchers than I am.”

Cardinals catcher Ted Simmons said Mays struck out on an inside fastball in the first inning. When Mays batted in the third, “Reuss put the fastball on the inside corner of the plate, but it came in chin high,” Simmons said to the Post-Dispatch.

In the fourth, Ken Henderson singled and Dick Dietz belted a two-run home run, increasing the San Francisco lead to 4-0.

“It was a real fastball,” Dietz said of the pitch he hammered off Reuss. “He supplied the power.”

After the next batter, Al Gallagher, singled, manager Red Schoendienst lifted Reuss for right-hander Chuck Taylor.

Reuss’ line: 3 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts. Boxscore

The Giants went on to win the National League West championship that season. The Cardinals finished as runner-up to the Pirates in the East. Reuss made 35 starts for the 1971 Cardinals. He was 14-14 with seven complete games, two shutouts and a 4.78 ERA. He issued a team-high 109 walks in 211 innings.

In April 1972, two months after the Cardinals traded Carlton to the Phillies, Reuss was dealt to the Astros for pitchers Scipio Spinks and Lance Clemons.

Cardinals general manager Bing Devine said team owner Gussie Busch ordered the trade.

In the book “The Spirit of St. Louis,” Devine told author Peter Golenbock, “This was a deal I had to make because Mr. Busch said, ‘Jerry Reuss is growing facial hair,’ and he didn’t like facial hair on ballplayers, or executives either.”

Reuss told me in a 2014 interview, “When you look back about how that was the thinking in baseball in the early 1970s and then just two or three years later baseball began to change with the times. Guys were coming in with long hair and beards. And you just wonder: What was the stink all about?”

Also, Reuss had been offered a $3,000 raise to $20,000, but hadn’t signed. He asked for $25,000, The Sporting News reported.

“Reuss didn’t appear to be happy with us, couldn’t come to terms and we were still far apart,” Devine told The Sporting News.

Said Reuss: “I think Mr. Busch is putting his principle ahead of the whole ballclub.”

In a 22-year major-league career, primarily with the Dodgers and Pirates, Reuss compiled a record of 220-191. He was 14-18 versus the Cardinals.

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Rick Ankiel and a last, boozy hurrah as a winning starter

Posted in Games, Pitchers on March 10, 2014| 2 Comments »

(Updated Jan. 8, 2019)

The last win for Rick Ankiel as a big-league starter was an unexpected gem. Years later, he revealed he did it while drinking vodka before and during the game.

rick_ankiel5After an erratic spring training performance (19 walks, 12 strikeouts in 9.1 exhibition innings), Ankiel was paired in his first start of the 2001 season against Diamondbacks ace Randy Johnson on April 8 at Phoenix.

“Naturally, I have a little apprehension,” Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before the game.

In his 2017 book “The Phenom,” Ankiel said, “I was scared to death.”

Ankiel had a terrific rookie season (11 wins, 194 strikeouts in 175 innings) as a starter for the 2000 Cardinals followed by a meltdown (9 wild pitches, 11 walks in four innings) in the postseason against the Braves and Mets.

He entered the 2001 season with the same anxiety issues that plagued him in the 2000 postseason.

Missile launches

Duncan had a secret plan. Rather than have Ankiel warm up in the bullpen that day, he instructed the skittish left-hander to throw in an indoor hitting tunnel at Bank One Ballpark. “I wanted him to get ready in as secluded an atmosphere as possible,” Duncan told Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch.

An hour before Ankiel had to go onto the field, he asked teammate Darryl Kile to bring him a bottle of vodka, Ankiel said in his book.

According to Ankiel, Kile brought him the vodka and said, “Do what you got to do, kid. I understand.”

While his teammates were doing warmups on the field, Ankiel said he took “a few long pulls” from the vodka bottle while in the clubhouse. He said he poured the remainder of the booze into a water bottle and carried it into the dugout.

Ankiel warmed up on sloped carpeting rather than on a mound. “He was throwing missiles to me,” said Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny. “He was throwing 100 mph fastballs and hitting the target. You could tell he was locked in, ready to go.”

The game had the potential to be a mismatch. Johnson was the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner. The Diamondbacks had a potent lineup. St. Louis was without two of its top players, ailing Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds, and had utilitymen Eli Marrero at first base and Craig Paquette in left field.

Resurrected Rick

The game began ominously for Ankiel and the Cardinals.

In the first inning, Matt Williams connected for a two-run home run off a low fastball from Ankiel. In the second, the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out. Two of those runners reached on walks.

Ankiel escaped the jam when he struck out Tony Womack and Reggie Sanders.

“I was like a nervous father,” said Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty. “I was living and dying on every pitch.”

Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Mikalsz wrote, “Ankiel settled in and became the golden child again.”

When he got to the dugout, Ankiel said, he grabbed the water bottle and took “a few squirts of vodka, then a few more.”

“I laughed at the absurdity of it and, while locked in a battle for my nerves, managed to have a good time playing baseball,” Ankiel said in his book.

After the Cardinals scored four off Johnson in the third, Ankiel protected the lead by retiring the next nine batters in a row.

Pure poetry

When Ankiel walked Luis Gonzalez, the leadoff batter in the sixth, with his 100th pitch, manager Tony La Russa lifted him for Gene Stechschulte, with St. Louis ahead, 9-2. “Electric stuff,” La Russa said of Ankiel’s pitches.

The Cardinals cruised to a 9-4 victory. The line for Ankiel: 5 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, 0 wild pitches. Boxscore

Wrote Miklasz: “Ankiel defeated Johnson, but mostly conquered himself, rediscovering the form that had scouts writing sonnets about him.”

It was Ankiel’s last major-league win as a starter. He made five more starts for the 2001 Cardinals and mostly reverted to his wild and ineffective form of the 2000 postseason. Ankiel finished 1-2 with a 7.50 ERA for the 2001 Cardinals.

His last pitching performances were five relief appearances, with a win, for the 2004 Cardinals before he converted to outfielder.

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