A handful of factoids relating to St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jaime Garcia.
In the midst of the wreckage of the St. Louis Cardinals’ Wednesday night’s home loss to Florida by a 5-1 score, researcher Tom Orf pulled some factoids relating to tough-luck starter Jaime Garcia.
From the first inning on, Garcia’s pitch count was elevated due to shaky defense behind him. Yet he worked around baserunners put on after fielding misses by both Skip Schumaker and Felipe Lopez to strike out the side in the initial frame.
It tied Garcia with ace Chris Carpenter for the most such innings this season at three. One quarter of the way into the season, the 2010 club is on pace to have more “strike out the side” innings in any year since at least 2000, when Rick Ankiel led the way with a dozen on his own.
Striking out the side, Cardinals (2000-current)
| Year | Team | Leader | # |
| 2010 | 9 | Carpenter/Garcia | 3 |
| 2009 | 20 | Wainwright | 4 |
| 2008 | 24 | Wellemeyer | 4 |
| 2007 | 20 | Wainwright | 6 |
| 2006 | 24 | Carpenter | 7 |
| 2005 | 26 | Carpenter | 9 |
| 2004 | 24 | Carpenter/Marquis | 4 |
| 2003 | 19 | Williams | 3 |
| 2002 | 20 | Finley | 5 |
| 2001 | 26 | Hermanson/Ankiel/Morris | 4 |
| 2000 | 35 | Ankiel | 12 |
Garcia stranded nine runners in five innings and was pulled after throwing 96 pitches on Wednesday. As a result, the rookie’s quality start streak ended as did his run to start the season with six or more inning performances allowing two or fewer runs at seven.
Season-opening streak of 6+IP and 2 ER allowed or less, MLB (1920-39, 1952-current)
| Rk | Tm | Strk Start | End | G | W | L | GS | CG | SHO | GF | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| 1 | Randy Johnson | ARI | 4/4/2000 | 5/16/2000 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 74.1 | 44 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 100 | 5 | 0.97 |
| 1 | Lefty Gomez | NYY | 4/20/1937 | 5/30/1937 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 78 | 72 | 17 | 11 | 29 | 48 | 2 | 1.27 |
| 3 | Ubaldo Jimenez | COL | 4/5/2010 | 5/15/2010 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 56.1 | 35 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 54 | 1 | 1.12 |
| 3 | Pedro Martinez | BOS | 4/4/2000 | 5/17/2000 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 60.1 | 33 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 88 | 2 | 0.9 |
| 3 | Kirk McCaskill | CAL | 4/7/1989 | 5/16/1989 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 59.2 | 43 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 27 | 1 | 1.06 |
| 3 | Atlee Hammaker | SFG | 4/13/1983 | 5/22/1983 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 58.2 | 41 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 40 | 1 | 1.07 |
| 3 | Fernando Valenzuela | LAD | 4/9/1981 | 5/14/1981 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 72 | 43 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 68 | 2 | 0.5 |
| 3 | Joe McIntosh | SDP | 4/12/1975 | 5/21/1975 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 63.2 | 47 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 29 | 2 | 1.41 |
| 9 | Jaime Garcia | STL | 4/10/2010 | 5/14/2010 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44.1 | 31 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 36 | 1 | 1.42 |
| 13 with 7 |
Streak of 6+IP and 2 ER allowed or less, Cardinals (1920-39, 1952-current)
| Rk | Tm | Strk Start | End | G | W | L | GS | CG | SHO | GF | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| 1 | Adam Wainwright | STL | 6/26/2009 | 8/30/2009 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 81 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 80 | 3 | 1.33 |
| 2 | Bob Gibson | STL | 6/6/1968 | 7/30/1968 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 99 | 56 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 83 | 0 | 0.27 |
| 3 | Matt Morris | STL | 4/11/2001 | 5/17/2001 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 59 | 43 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 47 | 3 | 1.53 |
| 3 | John Tudor | STL | 5/17/1988 | 6/23/1988 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 59.2 | 49 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 20 | 1 | 1.06 |
| 3 | John Tudor | STL | 6/8/1985 | 7/11/1985 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 69 | 42 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 38 | 3 | 0.78 |
| 6 | Jaime Garcia | STL | 4/10/2010 | 5/14/2010 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44.1 | 31 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 36 | 1 | 1.42 |
| 6 | Chris Carpenter | STL | 6/14/2005 | 7/22/2005 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 59.2 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 57 | 2 | 0.45 |
| 6 | Rick Ankiel | STL | 8/23/2000 | 9/27/2000 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45.2 | 31 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 54 | 4 | 1.97 |
| 6 | Bob Tewksbury | STL | 4/28/1992 | 5/30/1992 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 48 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 20 | 4 | 1.83 |
| 6 | Joe Magrane | STL | 6/27/1988 | 8/2/1988 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51.1 | 41 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 33 | 0 | 1.58 |
| 6 | John Tudor | STL | 5/23/1986 | 6/23/1986 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 60.2 | 30 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 28 | 4 | 1.48 |
| 6 | John Tudor | STL | 9/26/1985 | 4/22/1986 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 39 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 31 | 1 | 1.05 |
| 6 | Bob Gibson | STL | 5/20/1972 | 6/26/1972 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 39 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 49 | 1 | 1.35 |
| 6 | Nelson Briles | STL | 7/16/1968 | 8/15/1968 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 60.2 | 49 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 30 | 1 | 1.04 |
| 6 | Curt Simmons | STL | 7/31/1960 | 9/4/1960 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 55.2 | 52 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 24 | 1 | 1.29 |
| 6 | Jesse Haines | STL | 8/24/1928 | 9/23/1928 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 41 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 21 | 3 | 1.14 |
| 6 | Jesse Haines | STL | 5/16/1927 | 6/15/1927 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 61 | 48 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 1.48 |
A final factoid. In this era of pitch count awareness and relief specialization, a five inning, no run appearance has become increasingly common on the Cardinals. Garcia’s outing is the first this decade after it happened 21 times from 2000-09, or more than twice per season.
Cardinals starting pitchers going only five innings and allowing no runs (since 1952)
| Decade | # |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2000 | 21 |
| 1990 | 11 |
| 1980 | 6 |
| 1970 | 4 |
| 1960 | 1 |
| 1950 | 0 |
| Player | Date | Opp | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | BB | SO | Pit | Str |
| Chris Carpenter | 10/1/2009 | CIN | W 13-0 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 90 | 57 |
| John Smoltz | 8/23/2009 | SDP | W 5-2 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 75 | 53 |
| Chris Carpenter | 5/20/2009 | CHC | W 2-1 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 67 | 41 |
| Adam Wainwright | 4/11/2009 | HOU | W 11-2 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 102 | 61 |
| Chris Carpenter | 8/5/2008 | LAD | W 6-4 | GS-5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 51 | 33 |
| Todd Wellemeyer | 6/26/2008 | DET | L 2-3 | GS-5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 76 | 50 |
| Kyle Lohse | 4/1/2008 | COL | L 1-2 | GS-5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 74 | 42 |
| Todd Wellemeyer | 9/23/2007 | HOU | W 4-3 | GS-5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 71 | 43 |
| Todd Wellemeyer | 7/8/2007 | SFG | W 7-0 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 80 | 50 |
| Anthony Reyes | 8/10/2006 | CIN | W 6-1 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 81 | 47 |
| Jeff Suppan | 8/31/2005 | FLA | W 10-5 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 91 | 61 |
| Andy Benes | 9/29/2002 | MIL | W 4-0 | GS-5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 77 | 47 |
| Garrett Stephenson | 9/25/2002 | ARI | W 6-1 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 96 | 51 |
| Woody Williams | 9/9/2002 | MIL | W 3-0 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 66 | 42 |
| Luther Hackman | 2002-08-31 (1) | CHC | W 8-1 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 81 | 51 |
| Bud Smith | 6/27/2002 | MIL | L 2-7 | GS-5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 88 | 52 |
| Darryl Kile | 10/2/2001 | MIL | W 5-1 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 84 | 48 |
| Mike Matthews | 5/18/2001 | PHI | L 4-5 | GS-5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 69 | 44 |
| Pat Hentgen | 7/9/2000 | SFG | W 8-7 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 84 | 48 |
| Pat Hentgen | 6/28/2000 | CIN | L 3-7 | GS-5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 81 | 52 |
| Rick Ankiel | 4/20/2000 | SDP | W 14-1 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 110 | 59 |
| Kent Mercker | 7/3/1999 | ARI | W 2-1 | GS-5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 82 | 51 |
| Juan Acevedo | 6/21/1998 | ARI | W 5-4 | GS-5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 79 | 47 |
| Mark Petkovsek | 6/14/1998 | ARI | W 2-0 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 67 | 42 |
| Kent Bottenfield | 6/10/1998 | CHW | L 8-10 | GS-5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 83 | 49 |
| Mark Petkovsek | 9/10/1996 | SFG | W 1-0 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 64 | 34 |
| Allen Watson | 6/18/1994 | PIT | W 9-0 | GS-5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Bryan Eversgerd | 5/20/1994 | FLA | W 3-2 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70 | 47 |
| Paul Kilgus | 9/25/1993 | FLA | L 1-2 | GS-5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 76 | 49 |
| Jose DeLeon | 1991-09-23 (2) | MON | L 1-5 | GS-5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 55 | 34 |
| Joe Magrane | 9/4/1990 | NYM | W 1-0 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 84 | 46 |
| Greg Mathews | 5/13/1990 | ATL | L 1-3 | GS-5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 74 | 41 |
| Scott Terry | 8/11/1988 | PHI | L 0-1 | GS-5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 51 | 35 |
| Bob Forsch | 7/18/1988 | LAD | L 0-1 | GS-5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 31 |
| Jose DeLeon | 5/18/1988 | CHC | W 4-1 | GS-5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 71 | 47 |
| Joaquin Andujar | 5/30/1985 | ATL | W 6-0 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Bob Forsch | 5/31/1984 | NYM | W 5-2 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Joaquin Andujar | 9/11/1982 | NYM | W 6-3 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | ||
| Rob Dressler | 9/15/1978 | CHC | W 6-2 | GS-5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Bob Forsch | 5/15/1978 | SDP | L 3-4 | GS-5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Bob Forsch | 7/26/1977 | ATL | W 4-2 | GS-5 ,W | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Eric Rasmussen | 7/11/1976 | LAD | L 6-9 | GS-5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Steve Carlton | 9/28/1968 | HOU | L 2-3 | GS-5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
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