Diamondbacks Notes: April 15. 2009

* CARDS TAKE GAME 3, SERIES - On a blustery day, the Diamondbacks showed off their bats and not much else in a 12-7 loss to the Cardinals. High winds whirled through Chase Field, an atmospheric effect that made the location seem more like St. Louis than Downtown Phoenix. The weather must have made the Cards feel at home, as they recorded hit after key hit against their hosts.

It was nice to see the Arizona offense maintain the roll that began with Tuesday's big walk-off victory. Unfortunately, even their seven runs were insufficient on a day when the Snakes' pitching labored and their defense was spotty.

Starter Jon Garland (3.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 5 BB) threw 88 pitches without retiring a St. Louis batter on strikes. After walking Joel Pineiro to begin the Cardinals third inning, Garland fell asleep on the mound and allowed Pineiro to steal his first career base. Five runs would score before Garland could record the third out.

In the field, the performance was mixed. Chris B. Young...

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Tags: Bill Buckner, Boston Red Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chris B. Young, Felipe Lopez, Jackie Robinson, Joel Pineiro, Jon Garland, Justin Upton, Khalil Greene, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mariano Rivera, Mark Reynolds, St. Louis Cardinals

Series Preview: Diamondbacks v. Cardinals

* PREVIEW: ARI v. STL - The Diamondbacks (2-4) have had a disappointing start to the season, dropping back-to-back series with division rivals Colorado and Los Angeles. Arizona will have to improve its home-cooking to prevent falling further off the pace with the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals (5-2) coming to town for a three-game series.

Notwithstanding their fine record (compiled against the lowly Pirates and Astros), the Cardinals do have some questions of their own, primarily on the pitching staff.  Against the Snakes, St. Louis is slated to throw a so-so trio of starters: converted reliever Todd Wellemeyer, Tommy John-returnee Chris Carpenter, and the unimpressive Joel Pineiro. Only Carpenter has ever been the type to strike fear into the hearts of opposing batters; it will take more than a win over the lowly Pirates to persuade us he's back. Wellemeyer and Pineiro are the sort of classic cast-offs with which pitching coach Dave Duncan likes to work.

Duncan asks his...

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Tags: Albert Pujols, Anthony Reyes, Chris Perez, Colby Rasmus, Colorado Rockies, Dave Duncan, Doug Davis, Jason Motte, Joel Pineiro, Jon Garland, Los Angeles Dodgers, Max Scherzer, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis Cardinals, Todd Wellemeyer