Cardinals prospect reminds some of Pujols in victory over Sky Sox
Memphis center fielder Shane Robinson has his own theory on why teammate Allen Craig suddenly looks like Albert Pujols.
“His girlfriend came to stay with him about a month ago,” Robinson said. “So I’ve joked that that’s what’s made the difference.”
Something certainly has Craig inspired.
The Cardinals prospect collected four more hits — including a pair of doubles — as Memphis held off a three-run Sky Sox rally in the ninth to win 7-6 on Sunday evening at Security Service Field.
Since last month’s All-Star break Craig is hitting .442 with 10 home runs, or to paraphrase Baseball America, he’s putting up the numbers Pujols would post if the Cardinals chose to let him play in Triple-A.
“It’s starting to come together for myself and everybody else here, it’s exciting,” said Craig, who turned 25 in July.
“I’ve worked really hard to make adjustments and now I’ve just got to keep it going.”
While Craig kept cranking out hits, it was Robinson’s pair of tie-breaking RBIs that really came at the wrong times for the Sky Sox. He tomahawked a solo home run in the fourth and plated a pair with a bases-loaded single in the seventh.
“Where that pitch was, you don’t need to be a big guy to hit it out,” Sky Sox manager Stu Cole said about the home run that Robinson, a speedster who is listed at just 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, hit off starting pitcher Alan Johnson. “When it’s already up like that, that’s what happens. But he’s a good hitter, I saw him last year at Double A and he was a .300 hitter before they called him up to Triple-A.”
Robinson and Craig are putting themselves in line for another promotion, particularly as Robinson’s speed would make him a valuable bench piece and Craig’s versatile glove would allow him to play in the outfield or at a corner infield spot.
“The Cardinals like to be hush-hush about things,” said Robinson, 24. “My job is to produce down here. If they see fit to call me up that’s fine, but if not I know I’ve done what I can down here so I can’t be too down about it. But that would be awesome, it’d be a great opportunity and, they’re leading the league now, so it should be a crazy October.”
Note Eric Young Jr. scored his 106th run, tying Phil Hiatt’s team record set in 2000.
Pitcher Scott Munter, left, of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox waits to be taken of the mound as teammate Christian Colonel waits. The Sky Sox lost to the Memphis Redbirds 7-6 at Security Service Field on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. The Gazette, Bryan Oller Photo by BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE
A frustrated Eric Young Jr. of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox strikes out in the seventh inning as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox lost to the Memphis Redbirds 7-6 at Security Service Field on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. Catcher Matthew Pagnozzi throws back to the Photo by BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE
Pitcher Randy Flores of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox throws late in the game as the Sky Sox lost to the Memphis Redbirds 7-6 at Security Service Field on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. The Gazette, Bryan Oller Photo by BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE