Renteria Comes Through Again
Joe Strauss Of The Post-Dispatch
September 25, 2002
Andy Benes completed his return from the pitching dead Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Facing the same team that nearly ushered him into retirement in April, Benes stiffed the Arizona Diamondbacks for seven shutout innings before a blown save allowed shortstop Edgar Renteria another chance to expand his clutch hitting reputation in a 3-2 win at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead against the Diamondbacks' bullpen before single runs in the eighth and ninth innings provided Renteria his stage.
Given the chance to swing away with two outs, the winning run in scoring position and first base unoccupied, Renteria lined a single to left field to score pinch-runner So Taguchi with the winning run. Taguchi had reached second base with his first major-league stolen base. Renteria then delivered his ninth game-winning RBI this season.
"I was a little surprised to hit" with first base open, Renteria said. "But they did it (Monday night) in the third inning and I grounded out. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. I don't know what he's thinking." Renteria was referring to Arizona manager Bob Brenly.
The win left the Cardinals 60-17 after scoring first. It also carried more than the sentimental value attached to Tony La Russa's 600th victory as Cardinals manager or his club tying last season's National League-best 93 wins.
The Cardinals (93-64), the National League's hottest club, have climbed within one game of the bruised and stumbling Diamondbacks for home-field advantage in next week's first round of the playoffs. But the world champion Diamondbacks clinched a playoff berth after Los Angeles fell to Colorado 1-0 Tuesday.
One loss away from elimination from the division race, the San Francisco Giants also have refused to concede, forcing Brenly to consider using Curt Schilling in today's series finale. A win today not only ties the Cardinals with Arizona, it gives them the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series.
"No matter where you open the series, winning the first game is important," said Cards left fielder Albert Pujols. "To us, it doesn't matter. Here, away, anywhere . . . we still have to prove ourselves and put up numbers."
Benes said, "I'd like to have (home field) because it would give us Game 5 here if it came to that. We've got our work cut out for us. But we'll keep going and see if we get closer."
The Cardinals have won seven of eight, 17 of 20 and 22 of 28. They have won 17 games this month, three more than any other National League team. Before Tuesday, they had scored 60 runs in their last six wins.
"There was never a doubt in my mind that we had a great team. We struggled early in the season but we knew we had the talent," said Pujols. "We opened the door and we've gone right at it. The big key has been getting contributions from everybody. We've gotten hits from Renteria, (Fernando) Vina, Eli Marrero. Tony wasn't lying when he said we've gotten something from everybody."
Benes included. He represents a safety net in case Woody Williams' back prevents him from making a projected Game 3 appearance. Williams threw from the flat Tuesday for the first time since leaving Friday's fifth inning. Another session is scheduled today. The Cardinals would probably have to make a decision regarding Williams' availability by next Wednesday. Benes lowered his ERA to 2.93. He carries a 1.66 ERA in his pa st 11 starts; the Cardinals are 8-3 in those outings and have lost only once behind him since Aug. 9.
Closer Jason Isringhausen dropped what would have been his 32nd save. Instead, he suffered his first blown save in 13 opportunities since the All-Star break.
Benes had outlasted Diamondbacks rookie John Patterson but didn't outpitch him. Patterson, 24, was making only his sixth major-league appearance and fourth start. He allowed the Cardinals only one hit in six innings. Indeed, La Russa used Patterson as a measuring stick for Benes.
Benes "was very, very good. He was just as good as Patterson. And that's a good-looking young pitcher," La Russa said.
Brenly replaced Patterson with Matt Mantei after six innings and 89 pitches. The shutout lasted only one more pitch. Right fielder J.D. Drew broke a two-for-34 slump that included an active 0-for-20 skid with a 410-foot drive into the right field seats for a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals continued the rally with one out. Ivan Cruz replaced Tino Martinez in the fifth inning after Martinez experienced tightness in his legs. Cruz then singled against Mantei. Renteria's ground ball advanced him to second and Cairo then lined a single to left field to score Cruz for a 2-0 lead.
The low point of Benes' season came on April 15 against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. There, Benes surrendered six hits and 10 runs (three earned) while walking four without a strikeout. The Cardinals' 14-5 loss was followed by Benes slumping at his locker, contemplating retirement. Benes even offered his fiberglass knee brace to the team's medical staff and equipment managers as a keepsake.
"The last time was not the best of times. I was really looking forward to the opportunity to compete against them again," said Benes, who appea red for the third time against his former team. "I'm amazed at the way the Lord has directed my path. I didn't know what the results would be today. But just to have the opportunity to make the start was special considering what had happened earlier in the year."
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