http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseb...83740fabf.html
In the aftermath of Trevor Rosenthal walking three of four hitters he faced in the ninth inning on Sunday, Matheny rather adamantly had said that the young righthander still was his closer.
So it was that Rosenthal was brought in to close out Monday’s game. But Rosenthal didn’t.
After striking out pinch hitter Chris Heisey in the ninth, Rosenthal, clinging to a 5-4 lead, walked Billy Hamilton on a close full-count pitch. Hamilton stole his 46th base and catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s throw sailed into center field, sending Hamilton to third.
With the Cardinals’ infield in, Jay Bruce knocked in his fourth run of the night with a double past Adams at first, and the game went to extra innings.
Matheny, assessing Rosenthal’s inning, said, “Actually it was not that bad. We just walked the wrong guy. You put that guy on base and we’re in straight defense mode, trying to figure out how to limit the damage.
“Obviously, the ball getting through is not part of the plan. He ended up continuing to make good pitches and got out of it and gave us a chance to keep going.
“But that wasn’t what he was looking for. Or us. If you give free bases, especially to a guy that’s a burner, you’re asking for trouble. And we had trouble.”
Matheny, asked if he had employed Rosenthal for the righthander to gain a shot of confidence, said, “I put him out there to get a save.”