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The Cardinals found themselves in an all-too-familiar spot last night: everyone saying their season was finished. So of course, the Cards scored 4 runs in the 8th and beat the Brewers 5-3.

Aaron Miles knocked in what would be the winning run, while Felipe Lopez added another for good measure. The win keeps St. Louis in 2nd place in the wild card, 3.5 back of Milwaukee with Philadelphia nipping at their heels.

It’s been a wild and crazy season for the Cardinals. They continue to surprise, finding ways to win, much like Dusty Baker’s teams find ways to lose.

Boxscore

Yesterday, RHM and I realized that the Indianapolis Indians season was nearly complete and that we hadn’t used all our ticket vouchers from the flex package we’d purchased. After consulting the schedule, we saw the Indians were beginning their final homestand of the year, and it was against the Louisville Bats.

So the plan was hatched to attend all of the final home games, or at least the beginning portion of them. I never understood why people left games early. Having attended a game with a 2nd-grader on a school night, I’m beginning to understand.

Once, and perhaps future, Redleg Bobby Livingston started for the Bats. Livingston was shaky early, walking a guy on 4 straight pitches in the 1st, before settling down for a bit. Apparently, as we were leaving in the bottom of the 5th, things derailed a bit for him. He still got the win, though.

Look! a meeting on the mound! He looks ready for the Show already.

The Bats apparently thought it was an episode of the Simpsons, playing bombardment with the Indians and launching 4 home runs. Drew Stubbs didn’t have any of them, but he was closest to our lawn seats. He just might be the Reds center-fielder of the future.

At one point, a beer vendor visited the berm seating area. I was surprised when he simply plopped down his wares and walked around. I must admit, I was tempted. Not to steal anything. Don’t be ridiculous. No, I was tempted to pick it up and try my hand at selling stuff.

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It took 132 games, but the Reds finally have a pitcher with a complete game. You can tell this team is no Milwaukee. You could also guess from that stat that Aaron Harang hasn’t been healthy this year. Of course, with a team record of 58-74, you could guess a lot of things, primarily that Dusty Baker is the “manager.”

Bronson Arroyo was the winner of the dubious honor of first complete game for 2008. It came against the Astros in a rather meaningless little game. Arroyo pitched well, better than he has all year, allowing 1 run over 9 innings.

Houston’s back at .500, but will be expecting to change that once notorious Reds-killer Roy Oswalt starts their next game.

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The Cubs allowed 9 runs and committed 3 errors, but still managed to win. Strangely, it’s what’s becoming expected of this aberrational 2008 Chicago team. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when your playing any version of the Pirates for the last 17 years.

Carlos Zambrano started and sucked. Obviously, his head wasn’t in it, as he gave up 6 runs in 4 1/3 innings. His opponent, Ian Snell, wasn’t any better, lasting only 4 innings and giving up 5 runs.

There was plenty of offense in the game, but the star is Geovanny Soto, who drove in 7 runs while going 3 for 5 with a homer. Just think, though, if his team hadn’t scored at least 3 more runs, his offensive explosion would have been for naught. Isn’t he lucky he plays for the 2008 Cubs?

Chicago’s on a roll again, having won their 4th straight and increased their record to 32 games over .500. The Pirates fell to last place again, thanks to an unexpected win from Cincinnati.

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Overshadowing the news that Corey Patterson miraculously walked again was Dusty Baker claiming his first young pitching victim for the Reds.

Sure, that’s probably not fair, but it’s bound to be mentioned given the number of DL trips that Baker oversaw during his pathetic Cubs career. Johnny Cueto was removed after the 3rd inning with triceps pain. Hopefully it’s not serious, but I would hope the Reds were cautious with him. There’s not much of the season left, and there’s no sensible reason to risk Cueto’s career for this year. Unfortunately, the Reds often have little sense, so I’m not putting it past them to come up with their own bizarre reason to rush Cueto back.

As for the game, it was ugly, unfocused, and undisciplined. You know, typical stuff for a club that Baker “manages.” The Reds committed 5 errors and blew the lead they’d somehow achieved in the 9th before ultimately losing on a homer that Mike Lincoln gave up in the 12th.