St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Lohse pitched a masterpiece at Busch Stadium on Thursday afternoon, tossing a two-hit shutout at the Washington Nationals. Both hits were singles. The 32-year-old walked two and struck out six. He threw 72 strikes among his 111 pitches. St. Louis ended the day on top by a 5-0 score.
Lohse is now 3-1 on the season with a 2.01 ERA.
Lohse’s performance was his best-ever outing in his 11-year career. It also ranks among the 17 top April pitching performances in the history of the Cardinals franchise, going back to 1919. Further, it is one of only 14 such shutouts.
The last Cardinal to toss an April two-hitter or better did it exactly 22 years prior, as Jose DeLeon stymied Montreal on a pair of hits on April 21, 1989.
In the list below, the Cardinals April leaders with two two-hitters or better each are Bob Forsch, Ernie Brogio and Max Lanier. One of Lanier’s April two-hitters was not a shutout.
Only Broglio, who became most famous for being dealt to the Cubs in the Lou Brock trade the next June, had two gems in the same season, 1963. Lohse will likely have just one more start this month in an attempt to match Broglio.
Forsch owns the Cardinals’ only April no-hitter, thrown against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 16, 1978.
Hall of Famer Bob Gibson must have typically heated up with the weather as he managed just one of these April performances. It was very early in his 17-year career, on April 26, 1962, and he allowed two runs that day. Interestingly, another Hall of Famer, Dizzy Dean, is not to be found here, nor are current aces Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
St. Louis Cardinals, two-hits or less, complete game, April, 1919-current
| Pitcher | Date | Opp | Result | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Kyle Lohse | 4/21/2011 | WAS | W 5-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Jose DeLeon | 4/21/1989 | MON | W 1-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Bob Forsch | 4/16/1978 | PHI | W 5-0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Bob Forsch | 4/9/1975 | MON | W 4-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Mike Torrez | 4/15/1970 | MON | W 10-0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| Al Jackson | 4/25/1967 | HOU | W 4-0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Ernie Broglio | 4/23/1963 | HOU | W 15-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Ernie Broglio | 4/9/1963 | NYM | W 7-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Bob Gibson | 4/26/1962 | HOU | W 3-2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Harvey Haddix | 4/25/1956 | CHC | W 6-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Tom Poholsky | 4/25/1951 | PIT | W 4-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Max Lanier | 4/18/1944 | PIT | W 2-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Max Lanier | 4/26/1941 | CHC | W 6-2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Lon Warneke | 4/29/1939 | CHC | W 2-0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Bill Hallahan | 4/18/1930 | CHC | W 11-1 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 11 |
| Flint Rhem | 4/23/1927 | CHC | W 7-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Jesse Haines | 4/13/1927 | CHC | W 5-0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for providing the above table.
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I am a fan of Kyle, but it also seems fair to note 7 of the 8 position players in the Nats lineup had batting averages at or lower than Rick Ankiel’s modest .221.
Last I checked, this is still the major leagues….
Didn’t they just sweep Philly……or the Brewers…..or somebody……..with those averages…… Dominate pitching maybe……….. in all fairness????????????
1. Theriot ss
2. Rasmus cf
3. Pujols 1b
4. Holliday lf
5. Berkman rf
6. Freese 3b
7. Molina c
8. Descalso 2b
9. McClellan p
Edit
9. Batista p
They haven’t played well without Rolen in the lineup………its a Colby/Berkman day if we’re lucky……
I haven’t looked at the weather……….. Tony is on a play………any ideas locally there how this might pan out?
The tornado sirens went off so Tony changed pitchers.
will they play it?
Here’s the local weather radar
http://www.ksdk.com/weather/radar/default.aspx
Here’s the live webcam overlooking the stadium
http://www.ksdk.com/weather/conditions/webcams/1010.aspx
http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/USIL0024
this one is good too……. 1hr? 20 minutes for the field?
Agree that it sure looks like a TLR play. He warms up Batista while Dusty has to get Volquez ready. Home manager controls game start/delay decision until lineup cards exchanged just before game. TLR proceeds, knowing bad weather is close. By that point, the umps just go ahead and start play.
Now with a long delay, TLR can decide if he wants to go back to McClellan or have a pen game. How long will Dusty let Volquez sit before he has to make a switch?
Looks like a pretty predictable front on the Radar………. are you thinking he might press for a longer delay………even hoping for a DH tomorrow?
Tonight’s decision now in hands of the umps.
How many pitches do you suppose Volquez threw in warmups (probably six fewer than Batista)?
If the game is cancelled the Cards have a decision. Reschedule for this weekend (DH) which will really cramp their bullpen since Sunday is already a bull pen game. The advantage of this is that Rolen is out this weekend. Or reschedule for a later date when the pitching might be set up better.
Monday I guess is also a possibility.
McClellan in relief.
Normally I would know what the Bullpen usage was in the last two days………but I don’t…..
I wonder if Tony was trying to get Dusty to burn a reliever like he did………… looks like his ploy might have worked.
Dusty has to go to the pen. Nice move by Tony I must admit.
“The National Weather Service is reporting that the roof has blown off Concourse C at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport” stltoday
Molina gets caught on the change up…………that came from the bench………….good call by Dusty. Freese out in front……..Albert too…………1 run was a gift to the Reds.
Interesting game………….. AP stays back and goes OPO …..a good money AB………… Baker/Reds are abusing Molina…………. Theriot came to play…….the guy likes the sound of gunfire.
Uncle Lance is clean shaven……..Reds are a prom date he’s looking forward to “dancings” with…..
Lets see who shows up from the 4th on……….see whose hungry for that meal………
Colby is hitting well…………but the correct play there was the sac……opening up first for AP……..sending Holiday and Berkman to the dish…..at least a sac fly out of that………. Tony avoided that……..for AP’s sake……… that in my mind is capable of turning around this game.
Molina stays back……..and has a nice experience…….thats a big run.
That was a damn miracle………rookie play by Freese running him toward the plate. These guys are game. Kmac is starting to shake his arm between pitches……..he should be through here if they’re smart.
We are facing unheralded and unimpressive middle relievers. Should have more to show from all the noise. Reds can score 3 or 4 in a blink.
Its very much a game BB……….. we are tiring there pen though……….. can’t loose this game. K mac walks the first batter…not good. Dave to the mound……they knew it too…and let him bat.
Rookie play? That’s stuff you learn in little league.
Two on and no outs………….Sanchez will be a hero….or a chump………look who he is facing……..crunch time………..and it shouldn’t be. We should conservatively have 7 runs.
Tight spot………kid survives……… does Tony send him out in the 8th? It will be Boggs in the 9th.
He used Motte………..that was has good as Motte could be expected to pitch……….its not really good enough in my opinion……………. Sanchez got run into the teeth of that order….and survived…..thats a character builder………..he should be the setup man….at least………..
Dusty is using his best reliever…..up……thats a win…………..you can’t use Franklin…Salas?
That was huge…………..keeps Boggs pitch count down for the 9th…….allot less stress…….I’d like to see us score 5 right here……..wear out another arm…………..