St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Joel Pineiro did it all on Sunday as the right-hander spun seven innings of one-run ball on five hits and no walks to drop his ERA to 3.09 and earn his eighth win of the season.
To top it off, the 30-year-old free agent-to-be drove in both runs for the sputtering Cardinals offense. It came in the fourth inning via his second double of the season, a line drive between the third baseman and the bag that headed toward the stands that jut out down the left field line.
Leave it to Tom Orf to put this feat into context. Pineiro is just the fifth Cardinals pitcher in at least the last 55 years to drive in all the team’s runs in a single game.
He is only the second to actually pick up the win in the process and the first since Ray Sadecki did it 48 years ago.
Ironically, the most recent pitcher to drive in all the Cardinals runs prior to Sunday hailed from Puerto Rico as does Pineiro, Omar Olivares in June, 1991.
Cardinals pitcher driving in all runs (1954-2009)
| Pitcher/hitter | Date | Opp | W/L | Score |
| Joel Pineiro | 7/19/2009 | ARI | W | 3-1 |
| Omar Olivares | 6/12/1991 | @SDP | L | 2-7 |
| Bob Forsch | 9/12/1986 | MON | L | 3-4 |
| Don Durham | 8/4/1972 | PHI | L | 3-8 |
| Ray Sadecki | 8/6/1961(1) | PHI | W | 3-1 |
Forsch was a 3rd baseman at Sacramento City College, alma mater of Joe Thurston as well. Forsch was an unusually good hitting pitcher, 12 HRs at the major league level.
Joel Pineiro has mostly pitched in the AL and not even gotten to the plate. Nonetheless, Joel is batting above .200, quite a feat in his case. But if you pitch for the Cardinals, you need to help your cause.
I’m wondering what is the record for RBI’s in a game, when driving in all of the team’s runs? I’m not referring to just pitchers but all batters.
Joel’s game yesterday really crystallized something for me. He has been pitching great. However, if Joel had not done the SuperMan routine and doubled in two runs, he would have lost, at home, against a mediocre opponent.
So what is wrong with this picture?
Mo needs to step up and make some plays, show who is wearing the pants. Wake Up.
Chris Duncan can work on his problems at Memphis. Baseball is a tough profession. You are either pulling your weight or not. Duncan started out very well, but May, June, and 1/2 of July, its flat out unacceptable. He may be a nice guy. But, I really don’t care. Its a business. We should be trying to win games. If that means sending a nice guy to the minors, then so be it. Maybe that is exactly where he belongs.
Here is what I would do. I would free up 3 ML roster spots. I would send Duncan to Memphis, a no brainer. Also PJ Walters, we do not need the extra pitcher, but our offense is terrible. Ankiel I would DL; he is too good an athlete to be hitting this weakly; something is wrong. We should stock the team with guys who are healthier.
I would bring up Brian Barden, in case we need a backup SS.
I would move Skip to LF. Sorry we have been moving you around Skip, but this is where you are needed.
I would turn 2B into a Thurston/Barden platoon.
LF would become a Schumaker/Stavinoha platoon.
When he has spent enough time down at Memphis, I would call Hoffpauir back up. Then he will platoon at 2B with Thurston.
I would call up Alan Craig, let him get his feet wet in the majors. Against LHP Wandy tomorrow night, I would have Craig in LF, Stavinoha in RF, Luddy in CF.
When Glaus is good to go, then he comes up and either Craig or Barden go back down.
When K Greene is good to go, then the other of Craig and Barden go down.
I get rid of the Duncan situation, which is just not working out. I take the race seriously, dont let games ebb away.
I end up with Glaus, KGreene, and Hoffpauir for the stretch run, with Skip platooning in LF with somebody (Glaus or Stavinoha), I dont care.
Trades, schmades. You have to squeeze what you can out what you have. If you can add players, fine. But for now, use your assets.
I was hoping to enjoy one peaceful evening free of Chris Duncan. I was really enjoying it. Then he needlessly pinch-hit and of course grounds into a game ending double play.
How much longer do loyal Cards fans have to suffer this nonsense, Mo?
Needless to say, I am beginning to get really really cross. The charade with Chris Duncan has to stop. The jig is up. Finis. End of story. Down to the Bushies with him.
This is not a TLR issue. Its a Mo issue. TLR does not get a chance to play Chris, if Mo has sensibly stationed Duncan in Memphis.
You left out Rasmus, realistically that will never happen.
I found the answer to my question. It was Mike Greenwell of the Red Sox who drove in all nine of his team’s runs on 9/2/96. I wonder who holds the NL record.