CLUTCH HIT: John Jay belts a two-run double in the sixth inning to help lead the Cardinals’ to an 8-3 victory over the Giants in Game 4 of the NLCS last night in St. Louis. (AP)
ST. LOUIS — Carlos Beltran probably can relax and give his troublesome left knee further rest without fear of watching the Cardinals’ season disappear before his eyes.
That’s just the way these Cardinals operate, turning potential negatives into opportunities to build additional muscle. Minus Beltran for almost an entire second straight game — he played one inning on Wednesday — the Cardinals last night pounded Tim Lincecum and the Giants’ bullpen, rolling to an 8-3 victory in Game 4 of the NLCS at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals, ahead 3-1 in the series, will try to win their second straight NL pennant tonight when Lance Lynn faces Barry Zito.
”I have never won a World Series, but we’re close to being there,” said Beltran, who was available to pinch hit but wasn’t needed.
His replacement, Matt Carpenter, thrived for a second straight game. A night after hitting a two-run homer to spark a 3-1 Cardinals victory, Carpenter had a double and two walks to help lead a balanced attack.
Beltran, on the verge of playing for his first pennant winner, said he hit indoors yesterday and is hopeful he can return to the lineup tonight.
”I want to be out there, but if I can’t there is nothing I can do,” Beltran said. “It’s better to give the opportunity to other guys who are better to play defense, because my concern is just being able to go in the outfield and play defense.”
A sore knee is nothing new for the 35-year-old Beltran, who was plagued by problems with both knees in his final three seasons with the Mets. The breaking point came in January 2010, when Beltran had surgery on his right knee, costing him half of the ensuing season.
Beltran underwent an MRI exam on the left knee during Wednesday’s game that revealed nothing the Cardinals didn’t already know, according to manager Mike Matheny.
”You’re talking about a guy who’s had quite a few different injuries there,” Matheny said. “But they did give it a thorough check and saw the same things that they’ve seen before, which lead to the potential to have days like this.”
Yadier Molina awoke from a postseason slumber with two hits and two RBIs last night, and Jon Jay and Matt Holliday equaled those numbers, giving right-hander Adam Wainwright plenty of breathing room.
”They do have something going — there is no getting around that,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “What they did last year and what they’ve done this year, [but] it’s not over. We know it’s an uphill battle, but we’ve been here before.”
Wainwright rebounded from his disaster in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Nationals, when he fell into a 6-0 hole in the third inning, by allowing one run on four hits over seven innings.
Lincecum, making his first start this postseason after working from the bullpen in the NLDS, lasted just 4 2/3 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
The Cardinals chased Lincecum in the fifth on RBI singles by Holliday and Molina that put the Giants in a 4-1 hole. Carpenter, the hero in Game 3, began the rally with a double. Jay’s two-run double in the sixth gave the Cardinals additional space before Molina and Pete Kozma delivered RBI hits in the seventh.
”This is great, what can I say?” Beltran said. “I want to be out there, I want to play, I want to be part of every win. But right now I’m dealing with this [knee] issue and just have to make sure when I’m back I’m back for good.”