The Cardinals put this game out of reach early with the Reds starter Johnny Cueto out of the game by the 2nd inning. Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus did most of the damage, combining for 4 hits and 5 RBIs in the first 2 innings. Cardinals starter Joel Piñeiro allowed just one hit in 7 scorless innings as the Cards cruised to an easy 7-2 win.

Following a 2-hour rain delay, the Astros spotted the Cardinals a first inning 2-0 lead without surrendering a hit. Braden Looper kept the Astros off the board through 7 innings, while the Cards offense failed to put the game away – leaving 11 runners on base for the game. Izzy came in for the 9th, and promptly blew the 2-run lead, yielding an RBI triple to Miguel Tejada, a sac fly to Lance Berkman, and then a solo homerun to Carlos Lee that proved decisive. Brendan Ryan made it to 3rd with one out in the 9th, but the Cards failed to drive him home and dropped the series opener 3-2 in painful fashion.

The Cardinals roughed up young Giants hurler Matt Cain on Friday night, chasing him from the game with a 6-run 4th. After Chris Duncan put the Cards up 3-1 with a 2-run homer in the 3rd, Albert Pujols launched a towering 3-run shot into the upper deck to blow the game open in the 4th. Todd Wellemeyer was dominant in his 7 innings of work, allowing just a single run on 4 hits while striking out 6 as the Cardinals blew out the Giants 11-1.

Adam Wainwright led the way on the mound and at the plate Wednesday night against the Brewers. The Cardinals ace allowed just 1 earned run in 7 and 2/3 innings and belted his 3rd career homerun in the 2nd inning. Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina each had RBI doubles while Skip Schumaker hit a solo shot for his first homerun of the year. Izzy nearly blew a 3-run lead in the 9th – allowing the tying run into scoring position with 1 out, but held on for his league leading 6th save and a 5-4 Cardinals win.

The Cardinals dynamic duo of Brian Barton and Rick Ankiel wasted no time putting the Cardinals on the board Friday night against the Nationals. Batting leadoff in his first career major league start, Barton smacked a line drive into left before gunning it to 2nd base before the relay throw could arrive. On the following pitch Ankiel blasted a no doubter down the right field line for his 2nd homerun of the young season. Braden Looper continued the streak of quality pitching from the Cardinals highly suspect rotation allowing just one run in 6 innings, although once again the bullpen kept the opposition in the game. Izzy put the go ahead run on in the 9th, before striking out Ronnie Belliard and Felipe Lopez to save the Cardinals 5-4 win.