Cardinals comeback on Astros with Goldy’s 3-run blast in 8th, take game-one 5-3
Jack Flaherty and Jose Urquidy were terrific this evening. Both starters would toss 6IP, while adding a handful of strikeouts to go along the way. Flaherty would set down the first five Astros of the game, striking out Springer looking at a 96mph heater and Brantley on a filthy knuckle curve down and in. Gurriel would deliver the first Astros hit with a two out double to RCF, getting stranded on a ground out from Reddick.
Urquidy would give up one hit thru his first two innings, a one out single to Dex in the bottom of the 1st. Dex would beat the shift, hitting a grounder into LF, beating the shift.
Both starters would work 1-2-3 3rd innings, Flaherty adding two more strikeouts (Urquidy and Springer) and Urquidy getting his first (Flaherty looking).
Flaherty’s only hiccup would come in the 4th inning, allowing a four-pitch, one out walk to Bregman after striking out Altuve. Michael Brantley would take Jack yard the next at bat to give the Astros the first lead of the game, 2-0. Flaherty would end the inning picking up two more k’s, getting Correa looking at a knuckle curve and Reddick looking at some 95mph gas.
It’s worth noting, now is a good time to mention the home plate umpire, Brennan Miller, was very inconsistent with his zone tonight and it made a bunch of people frustrated, including myself.
KoWo would be sure to get a run back in the bottom half of the 4th, spraying an rbi single up the middle to score Goldy to make it 2-1. Goldy and Prince Sex would both single before KoWo, Prince moving up to 3B on the rbi single. Urquidy would strikeout Wieters to strand KoWo and Prince on base, taking things to the 5th.
Flaherty would work two consecutive 1-2-3 innings to end his evening, letting Brennan Malone what’s up on his way off the field. He was fired up, and Malone was ready to throw someone out. But he didn’t. Thank goodness (it wouldn’t have mattered anyway as Jack was at 108 pitches anyways). Flaherty would end his night with 9 strikeouts (6IP, 3 hits, 2er, 1bb, 9k’s)
Urquidy worked a perfect 5th and got blessed the wizard we know as Carlos Correa in the 6th. Correa would make two exceptional plays in the 6th, taking away hits from Martínez to leadoff the inning and O’Neill to end the inning, stranding DeJong at 1B after a walk.
Brebbs would come in to work a 9 pitch, 1-2-3, 7th inning– getting Correa, Gurriel, and Reddick.
This is when Daddy Wieters comes up clutch to do his thang, smacking his 9th HR of the season to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the 7th. That’s as many HRs as Cardinal catchers not named Molina have had in roughly 8 seasons according to Chris Hrabe’s tweet. That’s insane.
Butttttt.....the Astros would retake the lead in the top of the 8th vs G-Spot Gant. Gant would strikeout Chirinos on a 98mph heater to begin the inning, but then gave up a pinch-hit double to Alvarez. Gant would get Springer to fly out to Dex in CF before walking back-to-back batters in Altuve and Bregman, loading the bases for Brantley. Shildt would go get Gant, relieving him with Miller, who walked Brantley on four pitches, one (the 3-0 pitch being questionable, in the sense that it had been a strike all game, it was a ball) giving the Astros the 3-2 lead. Miller then struck out Correa on a slider to end the inning, minimizing the damage.
Ryan Pressly entered the game, ya know, one of the best relievers in baseball this season, to face the meat of the order in the 8th. He wouldn’t record an out in three batters faced, and the game would be completely changed by the time he exited. Dex would work a leadoff walk, Cafecíto ripped a double into the LF corner, and Goldy delivered his FIFTH HR in consecutive games– I’d say he’s getting locked in, giving the Cardinals a 5-3 advantage.
Tsunami would come into close the game in the 9th, needing only 12 pitches to secure the Cardinals 6th straight win. Reddick would get a one out single to LF, but Chirinos would strikeout on a fantastic inside heater from Carlos at 98mph. Aledmys Díaz (I MISS YOU) would pinch-hit for the games final batter, grounding out softly back to Carlos to secure the win.
With the win, the Cardinals (56-47) now sit in sole possession of 1st place in the NLC. Daniel Ponce de Leon (1-0, 2.82) takes the mound tomorrow night in game-two, facing the surging Gerrit Cole (11-5, 3.03). First pitch 6:15.
Cheers, Stew