St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( May 14, 2010 ) St. Louis 4, Cincinnati 3
The St. Louis Cardinals enjoyed a strong outing from their rookie pitching sensation Jaime Garcia to halt the Cincinnati Reds’ five-game winning streak on Friday.
On Saturday, the Reds will attempt to get a similar performance out of their star rookie right-hander Mike Leake in the annual Civil Rights Game.
Despite the outstanding performances of Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, and Homer Bailey in the Reds’ three game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this week, it has been Leake who has been Cincinnati’s best starter throughout the young season.
The 22-year-old right-hander from Arizona State has yet to suffer a loss in his first six major league starts and no-hit the Chicago Cubs for five innings before rookie Starlin Castro recorded an infield single to lead off the sixth in his last start Sunday.
Considering the Cardinals ended a 10-game homerless streak with dingers from Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick in Friday night’s 4-3 triumph, Leake’s sinker could just be the ticket to keep the ball in front of the fences of Cincinnati’s bandbox.
Frankly, it might have to be. Leake goes up against St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright, who continues to evolve into one of the top starters in the National League.
The 28-year-old right-hander has recorded a quality start in all seven of his appearances for the Redbirds this year.
And Cincinnati may be without the services of left-handed hitting outfielder Laynce Nix. Reds manager Dusty Baker told reporters after Friday’s game he did not use Nix as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning because Nix “couldn’t swing” without offering any further explanation.
Nix sometimes spot starts in left field against right-handed pitching.
But in a game seemingly destined to be a pitchers’ duel, the Cardinals don’t figure to score any unearned runs. The Reds have played errorless baseball for the past nine games- the club’s longest such streak since 1997 - and lead the majors in fielding.
In keeping with the Civil Rights theme of the game, the Reds and Cardinals will both wear 1947 “throwback” style uniforms.
This means the Reds will be wearing blue caps and a simple white, belted outfit with their traditional logo with a blue background on the left breast of the jersey.
St. Louis will also wear blue caps, albeit with a red bill. Their primary uniform color scheme will be grey with button down jerseys.
Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks will throw out the first pitch.