22 July, 2005

Cardinals in Cape catbird seat

These are boom times in Cardinal town, St. Louis and Orleans.

While the big league Cardinals are running away with the National League Central, the Orleans subspecies has compiled a 21-9 record, tops in the Eastern Division.

"These kids keep battling to the end," said manager Kelly Nicholson. "Offensively and defensively, they keep finding ways to win."

The Cardinals used Steve Singleton's homer, four stolen bases in the fifth and some great infield defense to beat Harwich 6-5 Monday night.

Second baseman David Uribes cut down the potential tying run when he charged a high hopper and threw home with one out in the ninth. He had three gold-star plays during the game and is batting .275 this summer.

"They thing I'm most proud of is (Harwich) threw a three up and we came back to score three to tie it," Nicholson said. "And Uribes made a big play. He said if he had a little ground ball hit to him, 'I'm coming home'."

Starter Brad Meyers (3-1) gave up a three-run homer to Jake Dugger in the third, but shrugged it off and retired 14 if the next 16 batters to win the game.

Steve Wright has nine saves and two victories in 14 games as the Cardinals closer. The whole Orleans staff has been terrific, with a team ERA of 2.31 that trails only Bourne's 2.28.

The Cards have 84 stolen bases, far ahead of second place Cotuit's 45.

"We have guys who can run and they do a good job stealing bases," Nicholson said.

Burriss leads the league with 32 steals, a Cardinal record. The league record is 48 by Wareham's Roy Marsh in 1993. Chris Pettit (.278) has 11 steals, and Matt Camp (.283) and Uribes both have 10 each.

Pettit and Brett Pill each have four homers, Pill's all coming within the last ten days.

"Pill is a very good hitter," Nicholson said. "Anytime you get a kid from Cal-State Fullerton who hits in the middle of the lineup, he's a good one."

Andy Graham (4-1, 1.27), Everett Teaford (3-1, 2.35), Meyers (3-1, 1.74), Lee Hyde (2-0, 2.43), Dave Coulon (1-2, 2.30) and Dustin Evans (2-2, 2.82) give the Cards a deep starting rotation, and they have strong middle relief behind that.

"We are happy where we are," Nicholson said. "We know there is a long way to go, and nobody remembers your record July 18, but they'll remember it Aug 8."