DAMN IT! I HATE THAT ALBERT PUJOLS!

After a three game sweep of the Astros in Houston, the Reds boarded a plane destined for St. Louis, Missouri at 2:15 Friday morning. Facing the first-place Cardinals in less than eighteen hours, their flight landed in extreme turbulence.

“The roughest flight I’ve ever been on,” Dusty Baker said. “We knuckle-balled all over the place. I heard some tough guys in the back of plane squealing.”

The loathsome weather the Reds experienced on their way to St. Louis was just a innuendo of what they would have to swallow later that night.

After completing 6 1/2 innings, the Reds had to wait over 2 1/2 hours because of thunderstorms to defeat the Cardinals 3-2. Johnny Cueto pitched hardy before the hindrance going five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, and striking out three. Five relievers were used by the Reds (Lincoln, Herrera, Rhodes, Masset, and Cordero) once the game resumed and all five managed to hold the Cardinals scoreless. Jay Bruce had yet another impressive day at the dish going 3-4 with 2 RBI. Albert Pujols went 2-3 with a walk, but failed to score, or drive in a run.

In game two of the series on Saturday, Homer Bailey was searching for the Reds sixth straight win, and his first. Bailey threw 121 pitches over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs (three total) and struck out six. Bailey's final pitch was a inside splitter that Albert Pujols slapped to left field for a RBI double. After Bailey departed, Carlos Fisher and Daniel Herrera followed, allowing three earned runs. The Cardinals never looked back defeating the Reds 6-3 as the Reds ended their five-game streak of victory. Albert Pujols went 1-3, with two walks, while driving in two.



After Saturday's game, Albert Pujols is hitting .344 with 7 homeruns and 21 RBI. The Cardinals three game lead over the Reds went right back to four after the loss. The headline writers at Cardinals.com called the Cards "persistent" and the Reds "pesky". Damn it! I hate that Albert Pujols!

Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson will have surgery to remove bone from his right hand. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Tim Kremchek and a diagnosis will be released after the surgery.

In a rematch of Opening Day 2010, Aaron Harang (1-3, 7.16) will face Chris Carpenter (3-0, 3.48) on Sunday at 2:15pm.

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