sportsnetwork preview:
Los Angeles Dodgers (54-33) at St. Louis Cardinals (46-38), 2:10 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Omar Daal (7-3, 3.39) St. Louis - Luther Hackman (1-3, 3.41)
(Sports Network) - The National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals wrap up a four-game series this afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Los Angeles has won two of the first three games after scratching out a 4-2 victory in 11 innings on Saturday. Miguel Cairo's untimely error in the 11th inning allowed the go-ahead run to cross the plate as the Dodgers won their second in a row. Brian Jordan homered for Los Angeles, which tied the score in the ninth on Eric Karros' run-scoring double.
With no outs and the bases loaded in the 11th, Jeff Reboulet lofted a fly ball to right field that Cairo had lined up. However, the ball bounced off Cairo's glove and Dave Roberts scored to make it 3-2. Mark Grudzielanek added a sac fly to put the game away.
Paul Quantrill earned the win after pitching a perfect 10th and Eric Gagne secured his 32nd save of the year -- and second of the series -- by retiring the Cardinals in order to end the game. Hideo Nomo, who has won his last seven decisions, hurled seven strong innings in a no-decision for the Dodgers. The righthander permitted just one run on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Paul Lo Duca came off the bench to finish 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored for the Dodgers, who have won two in a row and eight of their last 12. The win enabled Los Angeles to extend its cushion in the division to 2 1/2 games over Arizona, which suffered a 3-2 loss on Saturday to San Francisco.
Eli Marrero went 2-for-4 with a home run for the Cardinals, who dropped their second in a row. St. Louis' advantage in the National League Central is now one over the surprising Cincinnati Reds.
Steve Kline suffered the loss after loading the bases in the 11th. He was charged with two runs -- one earned. Woody Williams started for the Cardinals and yielded one run on four hits in five frames. The veteran righthander was forced to leave the game after the fifth with back spasms.
Luther Hackman is expected to get the call today for the Redbirds. Hackman is taking the place of struggling southpaw Bud Smith and will be making his first start of the season.
Through 23 appearances this year, the righthander has allowed a total of 15 runs -- 13 earned -- on 30 hits in 34 1/3 innings of work. He has not worked more than four frames in one outing and has eclipsed the 40-pitch mark only four times. At home in 2001, the 27- year-old hurler is 1-1, despite having not permitted an earned run in 11 1/3 innings of work.
Hackman has started three games in his career -- all late in the 1999 campaign for the Colorado Rockies. He was a starter throughout the minors before going to the bullpen when he was dealt to St. Louis. Hackman is 1-2 in his career as a starter, with the lone win coming against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his big- league debut on September 1, 1999.
Omar Daal counters for the visitors. Daal defeated the Diamondbacks in his last trip to the bump with five scoreless innings of three- hit ball. He walked four and struck out a pair.
The victory was the quick-working portsider's third in as many outings. During his win streak, Daal has surrendered a total of three earned runs on 10 hits in 17 frames. The 30-year-old hurler is aiming for his second four-game win streak of the season, as he opened the campaign with four straight victories. On the road in 2002, Daal is 3-2 with a 4.17 earned run average.
Lifetime, he is 1-2 versus St. Louis. Daal has yet to face the Cardinals this season.
The Cardinals have won 21 of their last 31 at home and are 29-17 on the year at Busch Stadium. They are 6-6 on a current 13-game stand. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is 5-4 on a current 10-game road trip and 27-18 in 2002 as the guest.
.......................................................................................................................
from espn scouting reports early this season:
Scouting Report
2001 Season
Luther Hackman opened last season on the disabled list due to a sore right elbow. He returned to the minors when he was able to pitch, but was called up to St. Louis by the end of June. He then settled in to do a solid job in middle relief with the Cardinals. He allowed only one of 20 inherited runners to score.
Pitching, Defense & Hitting
Hackman throws a cutter in the low 90s and also a sinker. He can be tough to hit when he is ahead in the count. However, he doesn't have consistent command, nor has he yet developed a serviceable offspeed pitch. Hackman has a slow delivery but holds runners well. He does an adequate job of fielding his position. He has handled the bat fairly well in limited chances.
2002 Outlook
Last year was Hackman's first full season as a reliever. He had been a starter while working in the Colorado organization and initially in the Cardinals' system. But he has a good arm and showed enough last season to be considered a candidate for a middle-relief job in 2002.
Los Angeles Dodgers (54-33) at St. Louis Cardinals (46-38), 2:10 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles - Omar Daal (7-3, 3.39) St. Louis - Luther Hackman (1-3, 3.41)
(Sports Network) - The National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals wrap up a four-game series this afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Los Angeles has won two of the first three games after scratching out a 4-2 victory in 11 innings on Saturday. Miguel Cairo's untimely error in the 11th inning allowed the go-ahead run to cross the plate as the Dodgers won their second in a row. Brian Jordan homered for Los Angeles, which tied the score in the ninth on Eric Karros' run-scoring double.
With no outs and the bases loaded in the 11th, Jeff Reboulet lofted a fly ball to right field that Cairo had lined up. However, the ball bounced off Cairo's glove and Dave Roberts scored to make it 3-2. Mark Grudzielanek added a sac fly to put the game away.
Paul Quantrill earned the win after pitching a perfect 10th and Eric Gagne secured his 32nd save of the year -- and second of the series -- by retiring the Cardinals in order to end the game. Hideo Nomo, who has won his last seven decisions, hurled seven strong innings in a no-decision for the Dodgers. The righthander permitted just one run on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Paul Lo Duca came off the bench to finish 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored for the Dodgers, who have won two in a row and eight of their last 12. The win enabled Los Angeles to extend its cushion in the division to 2 1/2 games over Arizona, which suffered a 3-2 loss on Saturday to San Francisco.
Eli Marrero went 2-for-4 with a home run for the Cardinals, who dropped their second in a row. St. Louis' advantage in the National League Central is now one over the surprising Cincinnati Reds.
Steve Kline suffered the loss after loading the bases in the 11th. He was charged with two runs -- one earned. Woody Williams started for the Cardinals and yielded one run on four hits in five frames. The veteran righthander was forced to leave the game after the fifth with back spasms.
Luther Hackman is expected to get the call today for the Redbirds. Hackman is taking the place of struggling southpaw Bud Smith and will be making his first start of the season.
Through 23 appearances this year, the righthander has allowed a total of 15 runs -- 13 earned -- on 30 hits in 34 1/3 innings of work. He has not worked more than four frames in one outing and has eclipsed the 40-pitch mark only four times. At home in 2001, the 27- year-old hurler is 1-1, despite having not permitted an earned run in 11 1/3 innings of work.
Hackman has started three games in his career -- all late in the 1999 campaign for the Colorado Rockies. He was a starter throughout the minors before going to the bullpen when he was dealt to St. Louis. Hackman is 1-2 in his career as a starter, with the lone win coming against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his big- league debut on September 1, 1999.
Omar Daal counters for the visitors. Daal defeated the Diamondbacks in his last trip to the bump with five scoreless innings of three- hit ball. He walked four and struck out a pair.
The victory was the quick-working portsider's third in as many outings. During his win streak, Daal has surrendered a total of three earned runs on 10 hits in 17 frames. The 30-year-old hurler is aiming for his second four-game win streak of the season, as he opened the campaign with four straight victories. On the road in 2002, Daal is 3-2 with a 4.17 earned run average.
Lifetime, he is 1-2 versus St. Louis. Daal has yet to face the Cardinals this season.
The Cardinals have won 21 of their last 31 at home and are 29-17 on the year at Busch Stadium. They are 6-6 on a current 13-game stand. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is 5-4 on a current 10-game road trip and 27-18 in 2002 as the guest.
.......................................................................................................................
from espn scouting reports early this season:
Scouting Report
2001 Season
Luther Hackman opened last season on the disabled list due to a sore right elbow. He returned to the minors when he was able to pitch, but was called up to St. Louis by the end of June. He then settled in to do a solid job in middle relief with the Cardinals. He allowed only one of 20 inherited runners to score.
Pitching, Defense & Hitting
Hackman throws a cutter in the low 90s and also a sinker. He can be tough to hit when he is ahead in the count. However, he doesn't have consistent command, nor has he yet developed a serviceable offspeed pitch. Hackman has a slow delivery but holds runners well. He does an adequate job of fielding his position. He has handled the bat fairly well in limited chances.
2002 Outlook
Last year was Hackman's first full season as a reliever. He had been a starter while working in the Colorado organization and initially in the Cardinals' system. But he has a good arm and showed enough last season to be considered a candidate for a middle-relief job in 2002.
