Hey, maybe the Cardinals looked at the scouting reports and figured out how to pitch to Nelson Cruz: Do not throw him fastballs in the strike zone. Particularly when he'll looking for fastballs in the strike zone.
Cruz led off the fifth inning of this scoreless affair against Jaime García.
First pitch: Curveball, high.
Second pitch: Curveball, swinging strike.
Third pitch: Change-up, outside.
Fourth pitch: Change-up, outside.
Would García give in, 3-and-1?
Nope.
Fifth pitch: Perfect change-up low and away, called Strike 2.
Full-count fastball? Hardly. Cruz got a curve, and gave up his bat:
Now that is how you pitch to Nelson Cruz.
Mike Napoli's a good hitter, too. Maybe better than Nelson Cruz, even. And Napoli shot a liner into right field, but right at Lance Berkman. After which García struck out Craig Gentry to end the inning. Still scoreless into the bottom of the fifth.