2010 UCB Progressive Game Blog: 7th Inning

This is the third year that the United Cardinal Bloggers (UCB) have done a progressive game blog, and we here at Cardinal Diamond Diaries are very excited to be joining in on the fun this year. If you want to start at the beginning, head over to the pre-game post at UCB. We are taking a look at the 7th inning, so there is a lot of game to catch up on before we get into the action. If you're coming to us from Redbird Rants, then welcome! If you want to back up and see what Ryne had to say about the 6th, click here! We'll wait ... back? Okay, we're picking things up with a 4-0 Cubs score ...

Top of the 7th

Chris: Thankfully, the bottom of the 6th ended – but it gave the Cards an even bigger hole to dig their way out of now. Luckily, the right guys are coming up in the top of the 7th. The Cards still have just 1 hit as the inning starts. Carlos Silva has a career high in strikeouts, with 10 going into this inning.

The shadows are across the plate at Wrigley, while the pitcher is still in the sun. That will make it even more challenging for the Cardinals as they're batting, and it's unfortunately not like they’ve been doing much off Silva anyway.

Ang: Ryan Ludwick popped up in the shallow part of the infield, and Albert Pujols did the same. Not a promising start to what could have been cast as a big inning for the Cards with the heart of the order coming up.

Silva is still throwing well for the 7th inning, although his location is getting a little farther off the mark than it was earlier in the game.

Matt Holliday put a charge into one, but the wind blew it down and it hit off the base of the wall for a two-out, stand-up double. Interesting to note: Holliday has had both of the hits off of Silva in this current 2-hit shutout of the Cardinals.

Colby Rasmus had a great start to the season but his patience at the plate has gone down as he has expanded his zone this month and piled up quite a few strikeouts. Colby already had 2 strikeouts on the day leading into this at bat, and he fared no better as he chased an inside pitch that was caught at his shoetops. Three outs.

Time for the Stretch

Chris: Joe Buck mentioned that Jim Belushi would be singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch. The whole celebrity singing thing at Wrigley is beyond tired now. In 1998, the first season after Harry Caray died, it was a nice tribute to him. Now, 12 years later, it’s just another Wrigley Field gimmick. “Oooooh, look – the ivy!” “Ooooh, look – women in tube tops!” “Oooooh, look – someone we don’t care about singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’!” Give us "Here Comes the King" at Busch Stadium instead!

Ang: Thank you, FOX, for not making us listen to Jim try to sing.

Erika: We here at the CDD have a better idea for 7th inning stretch. So grab your popcorn, peanuts and your choice of beverage and join us to watch one of our favorite Cardinal commercials, featuring Brendan Ryan!

And then finish up with a little eye candy commercial featuring Mr. Hunky himself, Matt Holliday!

Bottom of the 7th

Ang: After walking in a run and then nailing down the last out of the 6th inning, Mitchell Boggs returned to tackle Derrek Lee and the Cubs in the bottom of the 7th. Lee was punched out on a strike over the outside part of the plate.

Alfonso Soriano came up swinging, striking out on three straight pitches that were all low and away.

Okay, FOX, I'm thanking you a second time for miking up home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt and letting us listen in on his comments to Yadier Molina about Adam Ottavino's first big league start. Wendestedt made the comment that Wrigley Field is an awful tough place to have your first start, but Otto did a nice job. I like that we got that little glimpse into the game!

Marlon Byrd chopped it up the third base line, which David Freese scooped up and tossed a wide but catchable ball over to Albert for the third out of the inning.

Chris: Actually, Byrd grounded to ^Batman^!

Erika: A little background for those of you who may not know: David Freese gained that nickname based on his love of the movie Batman, as described by Derrick Goold during spring training here. We love the nickname and were thrilled when our Twitter pal @stl_cardsfan29 shared this video, which gives us all a chance to see Freese in his good-luck charm mask.

That wraps up our inning. At the end of the 7th, the score is still 4-0 bad guys. Thanks to Daniel for inviting us to join in on the progressive game blog, and hope to see you all again here on the CDD. Head over to Intangiball for the 8th! Go Cards!