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Cards unaccustomed to defensive issues
- Updated: May 14, 2016
LOS ANGELES — A team that scored 200 runs quicker than any other in the National League sits only two games above .500 largely because of the same complications that led to its unraveling in an 8-4 loss to the Dodgers on Friday night.
The Cardinals’ starters haven’t pitched well enough, their collective ERA at 4.09 after Michael Wacha’s four-inning outing. And, even more flagrant, their defense has, at times, been indefensible.
Statistically, Friday’s defensive performance ranks as the club’s worst since Mike Matheny took over as manager in 2012. It was the first time since ’11 that the Cardinals committed four errors and allowed five unearned runs in a game. Those unearned runs were the difference between the Cardinals extending their winning streak to four or falling eight games behind the National League Central-leading Cubs.
“I think, historically, our teams for the last several years here have played very consistent defense,” said Matheny, responding to the notion that the Cardinals’ defense hasn’t been crisp enough all year. “We have different pieces coming in all the time. Once again, you have guys learning to play at this level. Things are going to happen. Probably a whole lot more …
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