Luvofthegame
09-08-2006, 03:05 PM
Third baseman's pair of homers help righty top Diamondbacks
By Jason Grey
Special to MLB.com
9/7/06
Undoubtedly, this season hasn't always gone the way Jeff Weaver would like.
For a pitcher used to having success on the mound, starting out 3-10 with a 6.29 ERA with the Angels and being traded away certainly was not in the plan.
Nor were some rocky efforts in his first few outings in his new uniform.
However, things have been going more according to plan lately, as Weaver has put together a succession of good outings recently, just in time for the Cardinals' playoff push.
And as everyone within the game says, it's not how you start the season, but how you finish.
It wasn't always pretty, but Weaver gutted his way through five effective innings and Scott Spiezio homered twice as the Cardinals won the opener of a four-game series against the Diamondbacks, 6-2, in front of 29,998 at Chase Field on Thursday night.
The win pushed the Cards' National League Central lead to a season-high 6 1/2 games.
Weaver has quietly posted a 3.64 ERA over his last seven starts at a time when the team needs him to step up following the loss of Mark Mulder for the season.
Weaver had to battle in this one, throwing 84 pitches through his first four innings. He was working behind in the count often and had to escape a couple of jams, including a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the fourth.
"Arizona has faced me quite a bit the last couple of years," said Weaver. "They have a pretty good idea of my approach and what I'm trying to do. I was fortunate enough that some right-handed hitters got up there in crucial situations, and I was able to locate my curveball where I wanted to."
"That's something we've admired about him all throughout his career," said manager Tony La Russa. "He really competes out there, and it doesn't get any more intense than men in scoring position, especially when they're ready to bust an inning on you, but the biggest key of the game was the way he was able to avoid the big crooked number."
When it was all said and done, Weaver allowed just two runs in five innings of work and left with a three-run lead.
"He's really tough when he's got men in scoring position," La Russa continued. "He escaped a couple of jams today and made some outstanding quality pitches. He gets himself in trouble, but he competes well when he's in trouble."
With Scott Rolen taking a second day of rest for his left shoulder, Scott Spiezio stepped up with homers Nos. 10 and 11 on the season, the most he's hit in a year since 2003 as a member of the Angels.
"Clutch," said La Russa of Spiezio's performance. "That's what he did for us when [Albert Pujols] was out and he was playing first base. He's been really good when he starts."
"This year has been like a fresh start for me," said Spiezio, who spent the last two seasons with Seattle. "I've had some experience with [spot starting] in the past with the Angels and the A's, so I've had some time to learn how to do it, and as you get older, you learn a bit more about what your mindset has to be to be prepared for it."
Spiezio's first blast, a two-run shot, helped the Redbirds jump on Diamondbacks starter Miguel Batista (10-6) for three runs in the first inning.
"[Weaver's] been dealing for us and we haven't been scoring runs for him, so it was nice to give him a few early," said Spiezio.
The only damage against Weaver came in the third, when Luis Gonzalez followed a walk to Orlando Hudson with his 15th long ball of the season to pull Arizona to within a run.
However, the Cardinals got back their three-run cushion in the top of the fifth, thanks to three hits, a walk and a passed ball.
The bullpen took it from there, as four relievers combined to allow the Diamondbacks just two hits in four shutout innings.
Speizio ended the scoring with a solo shot in the eighth off Jorge Julio.
However, the story with longer-term implications is the groove that Weaver appears to be settling into.
"I hope [it's coming together]," Weaver said. "I feel pretty good out there. I think I've finally found that arm slot I was searching for and getting my sinker back down in the zone instead of letting it run across the middle of the plate, which was hounding me early in the season."
And it couldn't have come at a better time.
"This is crunch time," said Weaver, "and if you can get hot when it counts, it puts all those bad starts behind you."
By Jason Grey
Special to MLB.com
9/7/06
Undoubtedly, this season hasn't always gone the way Jeff Weaver would like.
For a pitcher used to having success on the mound, starting out 3-10 with a 6.29 ERA with the Angels and being traded away certainly was not in the plan.
Nor were some rocky efforts in his first few outings in his new uniform.
However, things have been going more according to plan lately, as Weaver has put together a succession of good outings recently, just in time for the Cardinals' playoff push.
And as everyone within the game says, it's not how you start the season, but how you finish.
It wasn't always pretty, but Weaver gutted his way through five effective innings and Scott Spiezio homered twice as the Cardinals won the opener of a four-game series against the Diamondbacks, 6-2, in front of 29,998 at Chase Field on Thursday night.
The win pushed the Cards' National League Central lead to a season-high 6 1/2 games.
Weaver has quietly posted a 3.64 ERA over his last seven starts at a time when the team needs him to step up following the loss of Mark Mulder for the season.
Weaver had to battle in this one, throwing 84 pitches through his first four innings. He was working behind in the count often and had to escape a couple of jams, including a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the fourth.
"Arizona has faced me quite a bit the last couple of years," said Weaver. "They have a pretty good idea of my approach and what I'm trying to do. I was fortunate enough that some right-handed hitters got up there in crucial situations, and I was able to locate my curveball where I wanted to."
"That's something we've admired about him all throughout his career," said manager Tony La Russa. "He really competes out there, and it doesn't get any more intense than men in scoring position, especially when they're ready to bust an inning on you, but the biggest key of the game was the way he was able to avoid the big crooked number."
When it was all said and done, Weaver allowed just two runs in five innings of work and left with a three-run lead.
"He's really tough when he's got men in scoring position," La Russa continued. "He escaped a couple of jams today and made some outstanding quality pitches. He gets himself in trouble, but he competes well when he's in trouble."
With Scott Rolen taking a second day of rest for his left shoulder, Scott Spiezio stepped up with homers Nos. 10 and 11 on the season, the most he's hit in a year since 2003 as a member of the Angels.
"Clutch," said La Russa of Spiezio's performance. "That's what he did for us when [Albert Pujols] was out and he was playing first base. He's been really good when he starts."
"This year has been like a fresh start for me," said Spiezio, who spent the last two seasons with Seattle. "I've had some experience with [spot starting] in the past with the Angels and the A's, so I've had some time to learn how to do it, and as you get older, you learn a bit more about what your mindset has to be to be prepared for it."
Spiezio's first blast, a two-run shot, helped the Redbirds jump on Diamondbacks starter Miguel Batista (10-6) for three runs in the first inning.
"[Weaver's] been dealing for us and we haven't been scoring runs for him, so it was nice to give him a few early," said Spiezio.
The only damage against Weaver came in the third, when Luis Gonzalez followed a walk to Orlando Hudson with his 15th long ball of the season to pull Arizona to within a run.
However, the Cardinals got back their three-run cushion in the top of the fifth, thanks to three hits, a walk and a passed ball.
The bullpen took it from there, as four relievers combined to allow the Diamondbacks just two hits in four shutout innings.
Speizio ended the scoring with a solo shot in the eighth off Jorge Julio.
However, the story with longer-term implications is the groove that Weaver appears to be settling into.
"I hope [it's coming together]," Weaver said. "I feel pretty good out there. I think I've finally found that arm slot I was searching for and getting my sinker back down in the zone instead of letting it run across the middle of the plate, which was hounding me early in the season."
And it couldn't have come at a better time.
"This is crunch time," said Weaver, "and if you can get hot when it counts, it puts all those bad starts behind you."