Defense Anbody?

Last night's game can be summed up in two words:

D. Fence.

The Astros had it and the Cardinals didn't.

The Astros made several big plays and hustled their tails off. And the Cardinals botched a few big plays and a lack of hustle cost a run. Which is very unusual for Tony LaRussa's team.

Call it hunger or a sense of urgency, but the Astros had it last night. Diving plays. Sliding through the outfield. Taking the extra-base. Give them credit. They let it all hang out and it paid off.

The Cardinals' Jim Edmonds, a defensive wizard, seemed to trot to a ball in the 2nd inning, allowing Burke to get to a triple instead of a double. He wouldn't have scored if not for a passed ball allowed by the young Molina.

The Cardinals were totally outplayed. And Reggie Sanders softball league-ish attempt at a catch in the eighth inning of a 2-1 game seemed to signal to me the Cardinals weren't going to pull this one out.

And they didn't. Let's hope that pathetic effort was not the last game played at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals now must win one in Houston. They won't get that one tomorrow. Morris and his beard are matched up against Roger Clemens. Let's face it. That's a loss.

I'm hoping the Cardinals pull out the game Sunday. The whole series is going to turn on that game. Go Soup Can.