ST. LOUIS – On the last day of the regular season, Tony La Russa held back ace Chris Carpenter and started rookie Anthony Reyes – even though the Cardinals hadn’t clinched the NL Central yet. Reyes didn’t get out of the first inning.
Certainly anything the right-hander produces beyond that in NLCS Game 4 tonight (a day before his 25th birthday) would be appreciated. The 15th-round pick from 2003 is pitching opposite Mets lefty Oliver Perez, who also is a huge question mark.
Reyes’ philosophy?
“Just trying to keep my mind away from it as much as I can and get prepared on the pitches I have to make and the batters I’m going to see,” he said.
In 17 starts, Reyes was 5-8 with a 5.06 ERA. In defense of his Oct. 1 blowup, Reyes was starting on three days rest and found out only a few hours before the start against Milwaukee that he’d be the guy. He lasted twothirds of an inning, allowing five hits and four earned runs. With five straight nights of NLCS games, another Reyes blowup potentially would be devastating to the Cardinals’ bullpen.
“We haven’t very often put an assignment on Anthony Reyes like we’re doing,” La Russa said before last night’s Game 3. “But he and Oliver have showed they have talent. And they’re young. So don’t be surprised if they go out there and don’t be surprised if their talent dominates a lot of good hitters.” Reyes, who didn’t face the Mets this season, is capable of clutch performances against playoff clubs. On June 22 in Chicago, he threw a one-hit complete game against the White Sox, yet lost because Jim Thome homered off him in a 1-0 win. It was the 23rd one-hitter in Cardinals history.
Before the meltdown against the Brewers, Reyes worked six solid innings in a Sept. 27 no-decision against San Diego, scattering five hits and one run. He began the year in Triple-A Memphis and posted a 6-1 record and 2.57 ERA in 13 starts over a couple of stints there.
La Russa famously thrust rookie Rick Ankiel into a playoff start years ago, and Ankiel developed control problems and never became the ace everyone expected.
Anthony Reyes
6-2, 215 Age: 25 Throws: R
Pitching breakdown
Fastballs: 63%; Curves: 13%; Sliders: 5%; Changeups: 20%
Oliver Perez
603, 210 Age: 25 Throws: L
Pitching breakdown
Fastballs: 66%; Curves: 9%; Sliders: 18%; Changeups: 6%
