Game 56 Post Game Thread: FranKKKlin

Chris Carpenter was not particularly efficient needing 100+ pitches to get through 5 innings.  With 8 strikeouts, his stuff was perhaps better than we've seen it thus far in 2011 but again he left the game in line for the loss with the team trailing 2-1.

The Giants would tack on one more run in the 7th before the Cardinals would mount their comeback in the 8th. Jon Jay and Albert Pujols led off the inning with back-to-back doubles before Lance Berkman's groundout.  Allen Craig would double home the second run of the inning with a gapper into right centerfield.  Skip Schumaker, who made an impressive play in the outfield grass to rob Freddie Sanchez of a single, would single in the go-ahead run.

Not to be lost in the offensive comeback were excellent relief appearances by Ryan Franklin.  Not having pitched at Busch Stadium since April 23rd (probably not a coincidence), Franklin struck out the side with just 14 pitches.  Fernando Salas would be called on to finish off the game and collect his 10 save of the year.  Salas now has 25 strikeouts in 23.2 innings and just 6 walks.

The Cardinals are now 33-23 and stay 2.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers who downed the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 tonight.