Cardinals' manager pins hopes of victory on Jon Jay

Even with his first major-league homer and best major-league start already in the box score Tuesday, Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay approached the batter's box with an eye cocked for the sacrifice bunt sign that never came.

In a game the Cincinnati Reds would win 9-8, the Cardinals had the tying run at first base and no outs with the lefthanded-hitting rookie coming up against Cincinnati closer Francisco Cordero. It seemed like the ideal time to bunt the runner over to second base and let one of the bigger bats, such as Ryan Ludwick, take a crack at tying the game.

Hardly, said manager Tony La Russa.

"How can you play for a tie in that situation?" La Russa said, scoffing at the notion. "That's firing material right there. I thought we had a great chance (to win)."

At the end of a seesaw evening featuring the NL Central's top two clubs, a lot went into a ninth-inning decision that led to a rally-ending double play. To bunt or not to bunt was not a simple question; it hinged on a bullpen La Russa wanted to protect, a victory perhaps there for the taking, and a right fielder who already had three hits in the game and speed on the bases.

Jay, a rookie making his sixth start in the majors, was three for four before his ninth-inning at-bat. In the fourth inning, he drilled a pitch from Reds starter Johnny Cueto for a solo home run. Jay's first major-league homer traveled an estimated 412 feet out to right field, and it chewed into the Reds' 7-3 lead. In the sixth inning, Jay aided a four-run rally for the Cardinals' first lead of the game with a single to score Colby Rasmus. Jay's RBI single brought the Cardinals within one, and Jay later scored on Brendan Ryan's double to put the Cardinals ahead by one.

"I was able to put a barrel on a couple balls and they fell in for me," said Jay after his first two-hit game in the big leagues. "I'm still trying to prove myself. I've only been here a month. I'm just trying to survive."

Survival was also on La Russa's mind when electing not to go with a sacrifice bunt in the ninth. One of the manager's goals Tuesday, win or lose, was to get closer Ryan Franklin in the game. He did, for two innings of work. La Russa explained after the game that the didn't want to use either righthanded relievers Kyle McClellan or Jason Motte unless in "an emergency," which to him was extra innings.

Trailing by a run in the ninth, the Cardinals got leadoff hitter David Freese on with a single to left field. That brought up Jay.

Jay said he was ready for the bunt sign.

He wasn't fazed when it didn't come.

He'd been hitting well.

"We don't have the deepest situation (on the roster). I don't think it's a tough call," La Russa said. "Playing for the tie would be a dumb idea. Who are you going to pitch in the 10th? I think you've got to play for the win."

Also factoring into the decision was closer Cordero's numbers this season. The righthander, who earned his 16th save with Tuesday's win, has held righthanded hitters to a .228 average. Lefties such as Jay have hit .325 against him. In his previous at-bat, Jay broke a potential double play by beating the throw to first base. La Russa stacked up the factors — the lefties' stats against Cordero, Jay's effective hitting, the outfielder's running ability, and the need to protect the bullpen — and didn't put a play on for the rookie.

He hit the ball squarely, but at second baseman Brandon Phillips. The Reds spun a double play to get Freese and Jay. Cordero then got pinch-hitter Ludwick to pop up for the final out.

"We took a great shot to win it," La Russa said. "We just didn't win it."



(stltoday.com)