After Mother Nature decided we needed to wait over two-and-a-half hours for Wacha Wednesday to begin, we as St. Louis Cardinals fans were treated to our second consecutive pitchers’ duel to begin the 2014 season.

Only this was a little more frustrating.

Because any game that ends with the other team celebrating a walk-off 1-0 win certainly is.

And because even though the Reds pitchers struck out 12 Cardinals (with nine by starter Tony Cingrani) and walked three plus gave up three hits, the Cards couldn’t capitalize and were 0 for six with runners in scoring position when they did have chances. Now, the chances were limited — yet no less frustrating to watch, especially after the two-plus hour delay.

Ah, well. Game two of 162. Too early to be concerned about the offense. Too early to panic over Carlos Martinez allowing three hits in the ninth and the walk-off run. Although of course everyone is panicking anyway, because as fans that’s what we do.

On the plus side, Michael Wacha was Michael Wacha. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowed just three and struck out seven. He got into a jam in the fourth after striking out Brandon Phillips, as he gave up a single to Joey Votto, struck out Jay Bruce, hit Ryan Ludwick with a pitch and walked Todd Frazier to load the bases. He then got Zack Cozart to ground to Matt Carpenter at third to end the inning. That was his only rough spot of the game.

Speaking of rough, that would be a good way to describe Matt Adams’ night, as he got picked off first after walking in the fifth and struck out when the Cardinals had two on in the seventh.

Back to the positive, both Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig got their first hits of the season. Progress!

And now the Cards will just have to go 161-1 for the season, right?

Depending on Mother Nature’s mood, the Cards and Reds will be back out there to conclude the series starting at 11:35 a.m. Central Time today with Lance Lynn facing Homer Bailey. The forecast, however, doesn’t look good.


Christine Coleman is the lead writer for Aaron Miles’ Fastball. Follow her on Twitter, @CColeman802, or email aaronmilesfastball@gmail.com. Also follow @AMilesFastball for the latest updates and like AMF on Facebook if you don’t already.