WESTPLEX TODAY SPORTS PAGE: JUNE 23, 2009
The Cardinals' four-game series against the Mets in New York got off to a disappointing start. Omir Santos and Luis Castillo combined to go 7-for-7 with a pair of RBI and three runs scored as the Mets defeated the Cardinals 6-4 at Citi Field. Tim Redding pitched into the eighth inning for his first win of the season for New York. Francisco Rodriguez worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 19th save. Todd Wellemeyer allowed 10 hits and five runs in five-and-two-thirds innings to fall to 6-and-7 for the Redbirds. Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer and Brendan Ryan added a solo shot for St. Louis, which had won three straight.
The Cardinals and Mets play the second of the four-game series in the Big Apple tonight. Joel Pineiro gets the start for the Cards. He's 5-and-8 with a 3.76 ERA. Pineiro allowed four first inning runs, but just one earned, in seven innings of a 6-3 loss to the Tigers last Thursday. He'll be opposed by veteran Livan Hernandez, who is 5-and-1 with a 4.18 ERA in 13 starts for New York this season. Last night's loss dropped the Cards to 39-and-32, one game ahead of the idle Brewers for first place in the NL Central.
For the second time this season, Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending June 21st. The first baseman led the Senior Circuit with a 1.111 slugging percentage, hitting four homers and driving in 11 runs. Pujols hit .389 with six runs scored, including the 1,000th of his career. Teammate Khalil Greene was also a nominee after hitting .500 with three homers and five RBI. Meanwhile, Pujols has reclaimed the top spot in National League All-Star voting. The Cardinals first baseman leads Phillies second baseman Chase Utley by about 12-thousand votes for the overall lead in the Senior Circuit. Utley led by about 15-thousand votes after last week's tabulations. Cards receiver Yadier Molina remains first among National League catchers, leading Atlanta's Brian McCann by about 316-thousand votes. Skip Schumaker is fourth at second base, and Rick Ankiel is eighth in the outfield. This year's All-Star Game will be played at Busch Stadium on July 14th.
Retired former St. Louis Blues star Brett Hull expects to become one of the newest inductees for the Hockey Hall of Fame today. The 18-member selection committee will announce the 2009 class today. Hull is a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer after a 20-year career that included 11 seasons in the Gateway City. Hull ranks third on the NHL's all-time list with 741 goals, and won Stanley Cups with Dallas and Detroit before retiring in 2005. His 527 goals as a Blue is a franchise record. Steve Yzerman, Luc Robitaille [[ ROH-bih-tie ]], Brian Leetch, Dave Andreychuk and Alexander Mogilny are among the other first-year eligibles.
The Rams will honor David "Deacon" Jones during the upcoming season. The team will retire the former defensive end's number-75 some time during the 2009 campaign. Jones was also nicknamed the "Secretary of Defense" as he, Merlin Olsen, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier became the "Fearsome Foursome." They were considered one of the best defensive lines in NFL history. Jones had a team-best 159-and-a-half sacks with the Rams, and 173-and-a-half for his career. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Defensive tackle La'Roi Glover announced Monday he is retiring from the NFL. The six-time Pro Bowler spent the last three years with the Rams. The 13-year veteran was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1996, but had his best years with the New Orleans Saints. In 2000, he had 17 sacks while in the Big Easy. In 193 career games with Oakland, New Orleans, Dallas and St. Louis, Glover recorded 627 tackles and 83-and-a-half sacks.
