Kritik und Lob » ur. Froome was close enough to "hear the crash

HOUSTON -- While two games wont be enough for either the St. Louis Cardinals or Houston Astros to establish the momentum that has eluded both over the past month, their brief interleague series at Minute Maid Park could at least serve as a potential ignition.The Cardinals (62-56) claimed the final two games of their four-game set with the Cubs in Chicago over the weekend, closing that series where they began it relative to their position in the National League Central -- 12 games back of the Cubs. St. Louis last won three consecutive games July 27-29 (the finale against the New York Mets and the first two games of its series in Miami) and is 16-14 since the All-Star Game break.Left-hander Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93 ERA) will get the start for St. Louis on Tuesday night. He lost to the Astros on June 14 at Busch Stadium, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-2 setback. The Cardinals lost 4-1 the following day as Houston completed the sweep.Garcia is 2-6 with a 6.15 ERA in his career against the Astros. His 10 starts against Houston are his most against an opponent outside the NL Central.St. Louis will be without left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist, who departed in the eighth inning on Sunday with arm soreness. Siegrist has been plagued with a dead arm since returning from the disabled list last month and was removed after shaking his arm while on the mound Sunday in Chicago.Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is hopeful that Siegrist can rebound over the next week, with St. Louis facing three scheduled off-days during that stretch.Siegrist led the majors with 81 appearances last season, finishing 7-1 with a 2.17 ERA. He is 5-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 50 appearances this season.It wasnt worth (continuing) at that point, Siegrist said to MLB.com. I was shaking my arm out a little bit, really trying to get it going. Its been hard coming back from being on the DL and trying to get my arm back in shape. I kind of went through a little dead arm-type feeling, and its been hit or miss.The Astros (61-57) are dealing with bullpen issues as well. Closer Ken Giles spent the weekend on the paternity list while right-hander Luke Gregerson returned from the 15-day disabled list (left oblique) and allowed a solo home run in the seventh inning of a 9-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Houston also relied on rookie right-handers James Hoyt and Jandel Gustave in the setback.Well continue to grind through it, Astros manager A.J. Hinch told MLB.com. Well have our full bullpen back by Tuesday. Thatll be a nice return.Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56 ERA) will make his second career start against the Cardinals. He is 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in two prior appearances (one start).The Astros are 13-16 since the All-Star break with three three-game losing skids during that stretch. They dropped the final two games of their series in Toronto and are in the midst of 14 road games during a 16-game stretch.Cheap Inter Milan FC Jerseys . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Cheap AS Roma FC Jerseys . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. http://www.cheapsoccerjerseysoutlet.com/ . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Australia Jerseys .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Cheap FC Bayern Munich Jerseys . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. TOURS, France -- Marcel Kittel overtook Mark Cavendish at the line to win the 12th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, while Chris Froome avoided a late crash to protect his big lead. Cavendish attacked first but Kittels late burst got him to the finish first by half a wheel to earn his second stage win in three days, and third of this race. "As we say in Germany, good things come in three," Kittel said. "It was a real sprint today, thats why Im so happy." German riders have won five stages so far -- with Tony Martin winning Wednesdays time trial and Andre Greipel also winning a sprint stage. Beating Cavendish for pure speed, a rare feat, will further boost Kittels confidence. "Its a big achievement for me, my team, and for German sprinters as well," Kittel said. It has been a nervy Tour so far and about 20 riders were caught in a crash near the end. Froomes Sky teammate, Edvald Boasson Hagen, broke his right shoulder blade and dropped out of the tour. Froome was close enough to "hear the crash" but just far ahead enough to avoid it. "Its always like that at the end before a sprint," Froome said. "Its scary for everyone." Froome still leads Alejandro Valverde by 3 minutes, 25 seconds and is 3:54 ahead of two-time former champion Alberto Contador. "At the moment Im trying to save as much energy as possible for Mont Ventoux at the end of the week and then the Alps next week," said Froome, who dominated the first big mountain stage of the race in the Pyrenees last Saturday. "Mont Ventoux will be the next really hard day for the general classification," he added. While Froome is firmly on track to become the second British rider to ever win the race -- Bradley Wiggins won it ahead of Froome last year -- countryman Cave