Bad Call + Bad Play = Win

The Cardinals beat the Marlins 5 - 4 in 2:44 today at Busch Stadium. The Marlins appeared to have scored a second run in the fourth inning but a bad call by the home plate umpire ruled the runner out at the plate. Replays clearly showed the runner was safe. It wasn't even close! As expected, the Florida manager was ejected from the game after that play. Then, with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Redbirds scored the winning run on a throwing error by the right fielder. To make matters worse for the Marlins the first two batters of the ninth inning made outs. The third batter then walked on a 3 - 2 pitch. Then, with another full count, the runner took off with the pitch. The batter stoked a line drive base hit to right field. The rightfielder rather than fire the ball back to the infield just sort of tossed it towards the first baseman who was the cutoff man. The ball short-hopped the fielder and the Cardinals runner raced home with the winning run. Bad call + bad play = Cardinals victory.