Unlikely pitcher's duel emerges

This game has had me on the edge of my seat.  Each team had quite a few chances to put a few runs on the board, but every time either one threatened, they were quickly shut down.  The Pirates and the Cards had two dominating performances today by two very unlikely candidates in Ian Snell and Braden Looper.  Both had the defense to think for this with the Cardinals turning a couple of nice double plays and the Pirates making a couple of fine plays of their own, including a literal "shoestring catch" in left by Jason Bay.

Looper was clearly the more dominating pitcher, however, going 7 innings, allowing no runs and only two hits, walking 3 and striking out 3.  Snell also went 7, but allowed 6 hits and gave the Cardinals multiple chances to chip away and finally come up with the lone run of the game in the 4th.

The Cards finally broke through once Snell was gone, against reliever John Wasdin, touching him up for 2 runs in the 8th.  The Pirates countered with a baserunner in their half of the 8th and one scary moment when a Jack Wilson ball almost landed fair. But the baserunner was all they would muster off of Cardinal reliever, Ryan Franklin.  He struck out the other 3 batters of the inning.

And that's where it is now.  3-0 going into the Cardinals half of the 9th.  I'd sure take a couple of insurance runs.  C'mon Redbirds!

Spoil their opener,

Tiffany