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Vina's Spark Lights Fire In Cards
Mike Eisenbath Post-Dispatch
October 14, 2001
Losing the third game of the playoff series to the Diamondbacks struck Cardinals players hard. They were quiet, maybe even a tad demoralized, as they shuffled out of the Busch Stadium clubhouse and headed for home Friday night.
"We were crushed," second baseman Fernando Vina said.
Vina knew he couldn't feel the same when he woke up Saturday morning. There was another game to play. His pep and vigor had to be as evident as ever. He had to shake everyone's hand - as usual. He had to smile and slap backs and bounce around - as usual.
"It's no secret. We had to win this game," Vina said. "I was just trying to do whatever I could to get the ball rolling for us."
But with even more energy, more gusto, more creativity. That turned imperative after a 3 1/2-hour rain delay and a Diamondbacks run in the top of the first inning Saturday.
Vina blooped a base hit into right-center field in the bottom of the first. He stole second base. Placido Polanco bunted him to third. J.D. Drew drove him home with an infield single.
"Our style is aggressive. We try to be aggressive," manager Tony La Russa said. "His base hit, the fact he tried to make something happen, it sends a message. We don't spend a lot of time trying to send messages to the other side. We mostly try to take care of our own business. And we tried to send a message to our club: 'The guy at the top of the lineup was ready to play. Come on.' "
Vina was more than ready. He reached base all four times he went to the plate, including a two-run homer in the third inning. He called for a pickoff play in the top of the third, took the throw from pitcher Bud Smith and used his lightning-quick tag to get Tony Womack coming back into the second-base bag.
The second baseman also turned two double plays and flawlessly handled all 10 of his fielding chances. Just another day at the office for Vina, who still had energy to spare as he talked at top speed after the game.
"He's our little spark plug," pitcher Steve Kline said. "The engine doesn't run without your spark."
Which spark was most important? Maybe the first-inning hit and stolen base. He wanted to open doors for a team that had scored seven times in the series' first three games.
"He has been doing it all year long," Polanco said. "But any run you score right now is very important."
Maybe the pickoff was more important. The Cardinals led 2-1 at the time, but the Diamondbacks had runners at first and second with one out and cleanup man Greg Colbrunn up at the time. La Russa gives Vina a green light to call the play in such a situation. Recalling he had successfully called one earlier this season with Smith on the mound, he took the chance again Saturday.
Some of the Diamondbacks, including manager Bob Brenly, thought Vina had stepped on Womack's hand and thus prevented him from getting to the base before the tag. Inadvertent, Vina stressed. "The throw was up the line a little bit toward Womack, and I had to jump out to go get it," he said. "You can't try to do anything like that."
Sort of like he can't try to hit a home run. Even though he hit a career-high nine in the regular season, he has only 35 in more than 3,200 career at-bats.
"That's what he's here for," Kline said. "He won't let our team quit."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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