For the second time during the MLB playoffs, Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia effectively lost a game because of his inability to keep the ball down.
After being staked to a 5-2 lead going into the bottom of the fifth against Milwaukee on Sunday, Garcia gave up four runs on four consecutive hits that put the Brewers on top 6-5 and essentially killed the Cardinals chances of winning Game 1 of the NLCS.
Garcia was on the mound in Game 3 of the NLDS against Philadelphia in a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh, but he allowed a three-run homer to the Phillies Ben Francisco that proved to be the game winner.
In his two postseason starts, Garcia has been grossly ineffective. He’s pitched 11 innings, allowing 12 hits and nine earned runs, walked five batters and given up three home runs.
The Cardinals thought enough of Garcia to give him a four-year, $27 million deal earlier this season, but since signing the new contract he hasn’t met expectations.
As he stood on the mound in the crucial fifth inning on Sunday, you could look into Garcia’s eyes and see he was scared.
He didn’t want any part of the Brewers and his tentativeness was evident to everyone, especially Milwaukee’s hitters.
Unlike the bulldog attitude Chris Carpenter displays when he’s pitching, Garcia is timid. That lack of composure and inability to compete surely isn’t inspiring.
Garcia simply doesn’t have the mental toughness to make quality pitches when the game is on the line.
He can’t overcome his mistakes or those of his infielders, and like many of the Cardinals pitchers he can’t protect a lead.
Following his fifth inning implosion against the Brewers, Garcia was seen in the Cardinals dugout with his head down obviously distraught about his second straight failed outing.
There’s no question he feels bad, but that’s not what the Cardinals need from Garcia. He has to learn from these two outings, stop pouting and start producing.
With a limited starting rotation, St. Louis has been able to overcome the odds and make it to the NLCS. But there’s no way they can advance beyond this round unless someone other than Carpenter steps up.
Garcia, Kyle Lohse and Edwin Jackson have to give the Cardinals more than five innings. And it’s particularly important that Garcia pitch to his ability because if the series goes beyond four games, he’ll be asked to pitch again.
St. Louis can’t afford to have Garcia take the mound and toss softballs down the middle of the plate like he did in the fifth inning on Sunday.
Given his recent past, maybe manager Tony La Russa should put Garcia in the bullpen and let someone else take the mound.
For what the Cardinals are getting from Garcia, it couldn’t be too much worse.
