Winning run on third with one out, you need to walk Hamilton and go for the double play with Beltre. They had the 7,8,9, spots coming up in the ninth, (Punto, a career .249 hitter one of them) The Cards needed to go all or nothing in the top of the inning. The odds of them coming back and getting just one run in the bottom of the ninth are not good.
The other thing he did wrong was, you just got a walk to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Why not have Punto take a few pitches. Perez is overthrowing and is all over the place. Punto couldn't get the bunt down because he was so wild. If you could weasel out a walk with Punto, then you bunt and you have the top of the line up coming up.
I really thought La Russa blew it last night.
The other thing he did wrong was, you just got a walk to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Why not have Punto take a few pitches. Perez is overthrowing and is all over the place. Punto couldn't get the bunt down because he was so wild. If you could weasel out a walk with Punto, then you bunt and you have the top of the line up coming up.
I really thought La Russa blew it last night.