2015.09.25 Cardinals vs. Brewers Recap: Carlos Martinez exits game early and nothing else matters

pre game

brewers lineup:

cardinals lineup:

game

It is funny how one player can totally change the complexion of a lineup. This Cardinal offense just feels more complete when Matt Holliday is holding down the three spot. Then Jason Heyward can be pushed back to fourth and Jhonny Peralta bats fifth with either Pham, Piscotty, or Randal Grichuk sixth. It just fits really nicely. This reinvigorated lineup was able to plate three runs in the first four innings, those three runs just didn't happen to be enough after an untimely error by Garcia allowed the Brewers to tie the game and Trevor Rosenthal coughed up the lead in the top of the ninth on a f****n' Khris Davis homer.

But, no one gives a shit about any of that.

The real story of the night can be summed up in this photo and about four million crying emojis:

Seven pitches into what was supposed to be El Gallo's second to last start, VEB darling and arguably the Cardinals 2015 ace found himself headed to the locker room. He left the field covering his face with his adorable red glove, hopefully to shield innocent eyes from a stream of frustrated profanities and not tears, though it appears more like the latter. Official word from Mike Matheny was right shoulder stiffness, which the medical staff looks to confirm Saturday morning with an MRI. Matheny further clarified in his post game conference that it was too earlier for him to gauge his level of concern, but that the medical staff ran Carlos through a gauntlet of tests and they "do not seem overly concerned". This would be good news for El Gallo and the Cardinals.

Considering the circumstances, the Cardinals were able to limit the damage quite well. Tyler Lyons came in in relief of Martinez, flashing his beautiful dimples breaking ball, striking out five in just under four innings of work, three coming in the second inning and two to start off the third to make it five strikeouts in a row. He allowed two hits, no walks, and one run on a passed ball. The rest of the bullpen held up about a well as one could reasonably expect. The Cardinals just, like, lost, man. The real concern tonight is with the health of everyone's favorite fowl-monikered hero.

stray thoughts:

• If El Gallo is seriously hurt, just get me a bed pan and some ice cream right now because I am going to bed and not getting up until Thursday.
• F****n' Khris Davis. I f****n' knew it. 
  <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">F****n&#39; Khris Davis. <a href="http://t.co/cM7lRySY7T">http://t.co/cM7lRySY7T</a> <a href="http://t.co/3dFeAkK3x7">pic.twitter.com/3dFeAkK3x7</a></p>&mdash; Scooter Simon (@lil_scooter93) <a href="https://twitter.com/lil_scooter93/status/647632552941850624">September 26, 2015</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
• The Pirates defeated the Cubs this afternoon 3-2 because UGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH.

post game

LIL SCOOTER'S PEST OF THE GAME/HONORARY DARWIN BARNEY AWARD:

F****n' Kris Davis with his f****n' home run and his f****n' .336 WPA.

<iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2015-09-25&team=Cardinals&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width = "450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-09-25&team=Cardinals&dh=0&season=2015">FanGraphs</a></span>

The series continues tomorrow at 6:15pm CST when Jaime Garcia takes the mound against Tyler Wagner!