Cardinals vs. Rays, May 18

It's just like the Cardinals to look helpless against the fifth place Pirates and, as soon as you get out your pen to write them off, they take two out of three against Tampa Bay, arguing the hottest team in baseball.

Sure, it wasn't easy. All three games were a battle. But what counts is the final score.

The Cardinals got schooled in game one by being impatient at the plate. In game two they worked the count and worked over the Rays hitters, tallying one of their highest run totals of the season. On Sunday it looked as if the Redbirds were going to go down easy once again. But they came to life in the second half of the game and managed to overcome a two-run deficit to take the rubber game.

Starting Pitching: C... Adam Wainwright is really struggling. He got pounded for 12 hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings while striking out only two. Braden Looper was mediocre with 10 hits and three runs allowed in six innings and Kyle Lohse was decent with 6 innings pitched, on eight hits for three runs, two of them earned.

Bullpen: C... The bullpen was alright in game one of the Tampa series -- until extra frames. It was awful the second game, playing a major role in choking up a five-run lead. Mike Parisi and newly called up closer Chris Perez were solid Sunday.

Offense: B... The Cardinals scored at a little more frequent pace against the Rays. But they are leaving runners on at an alarming pace.

Defense: B... Yadi Molina Had a huge impact in the Wainwright game, picking off a runner and throwing out a base stealer. He needs a little help, though, from the shortstops catching the ball and from pitchers who need to do a better job at keeping runners close.

Skip Schumaker was 2-5 with the game-winning double to take home the View From the Cheap Seats Cardinals Star of the Game honors.

On a day when the Cardinals won, the weather was perfect and Stan the Man was on hand to rededicate his statue in the plaza west of Busch Stadium that bears his name, I don't it's possible to have a lowlight.

It could have been a bummer if the news about Rick Ankiel's shoulder was bad when he got to the park on Sunday. But, while he couldn't even hit Saturday, he said he felt much better Sunday, so the Cardinals held off of putting him on the disabled list.