Cardinals take game-one thriller in Chavez Ravine over Dodgers 5-3, Trap House & Carp deliver back-to-back bombs in the 9th for the win
Okay, so it’s 1:33 am right now and I’m just beginning this recap because the game decided to last 4 hours and 10 minutes. So this is gonna be a short recap, but damn it was a great win for the Cardinals tonight, creeping back into the second wildcard spot.
Cafecíto got the Birds on the board early in the 1st inning tonight, cranking a solo HR to deep LF (424 feet, 105 mph off the bat) off Alex Wood to make it 1-0.
Austin Gomber escaped a bases loaded situation his 1st inning of work, giving up back-to-back singles to start the game to Dozier and Turner. Gomber then hit Machado with a pitch to load the bases, inducing a huge first out on a Bellinger pop out to Peña in foul territory. Kolten Wong ended the inning with a defensive gem, maybe the best of the night, Pauly D would have something to show for later, robbing Kemp of a hit, inducing an inning ending double-play on the soft line out.
The Cardinals would strand the bases loaded in the top of 4th, Swags and Harry would both reach via singles. With two down and the pitchers spot due up next, Wood would intentionally walk Peña to load the bases for Gomber. Gomber would strikeout on a curveball to end the inning.
Gomber worked out of trouble again in the bottom of the 4th, having to work around Kemp (leadoff single) and Hernández (walk) who reached base safely to begin the inning. With Hernández batting, Gomber would balk to allow Kemp to move up 90-feet. Gomber then retired the next three in order, striking out Barnes for the second out on a slider before getting Wood to ground into the 6-4 fielder’s choice.
Carp, leadoff guy, opened the 5th inning with a double to RF, beating the shift. Cafecíto then drove in Carp with a single to RF, advancing to 2B on a fielding error from Kemp. With Pauly Deez batting, Wood would balk, moving Cafecíto up to 3B as Pauly worked a walk, ending the evening for Alex Wood.
Chargois would relieve Wood, walking Swags to load the bases, injuring himself on the walk, having to be removed from the game for Pedro Báez. Báez, the world’s fastest worker, would walk Patty Wiz to begin his appearance, bringing in Cafecíto for the easiest RBI Wiz will ever get in his career.
Báez got the next three Cards batters, striking out Bader and Peña to strand the bases loaded, Cardinals on top 3-0.
Gomber allowed the first three to reach base in the bottom of the 5th, walking Dozier, double to RF from Turner, RBI single to CF from Machado. Bellinger then delivered with a sac-fly to LF, scoring Turner to make it 3-2 Cardinals. Gomber then struck out Kemp, his 4th of the game, getting him to swing and miss at a fastball.
The inning ended with the best defensive play of the night, maybe the season, as Pauly Deez dove up the middle to take away the game-tying run, robbing Hernández of the RBI single.
The Cardinals wouldn’t record anymore hits until the top of the 9th tonight, as the bullpen would be tasked with keeping this game close. Dakota Hudson got the first go, striking out the first two (Taylor and Grandal) he faced before allowing a two-out walk to Pederson (pinch-hitting). After Hudson escaped the 6th, he would induce two quick outs in the 7th, getting two groundouts on Turner and Machado. Hudson lost command, walking Bellinger and Kemp next to put two runners on for Max Muncy (pinch-hitting for Hernández).
Shildt would turn to Hicks as soon as Muncy was announced. With 2 strikes, Muncy would lace an RBI single into LF, taking the 102 mph sinker to LF to tie the game at 3-3. After Muncy stole 2B, Taylor would walk to load the bases for Grandal, who would whiff at a slider to end the inning with the bases loaded.
Yasiel Puig (pinch-hitting) would leadoff the bottom of the 8th with an infield single off Hicks. Hicks then would get two huge strikeouts, back-to-back, on Dozier and Turner, getting both of them to go down on the wicked slider. Puig advanced all the way to 3B when Hicks delivered a wild pitch with Turner at the dish. With the go-ahead run at 3B, Shildt would turn to Brett Cecil for the final out. Cecil would intentionally walk Machado to get to the lefty, Cody Bellinger. On the 4th-pitch of the at bat, Cecil would get Bellinger to lineout to shallow CF, keeping things locked at 3-3.
Kenley Jansen, fresh off the DL, would serve up back-to-back taters to Trap House and Carp Daddy upon entering. The Trap was open after hours tonight, smoking a cutter to LCF to give the Birds the 4-3 advantage. A batter later, Carp would take a fastball the same way, sending a solo HR to LCF for his 34th HR of the season, extending the Cards lead to 5-3. Welcome back, Kenley.
Bud Norris shut the door for his 25th save of the season, striking out the side after allowing a leadoff walk to Kemp. Norris got Muncy swinging at a slider, Taylor swinging at a cutter, and Grandal whiffing at a fastball for the 5-3 Cardinals game-one, winner.
The game last 4 hours and 10 minutes, making all of us love west coast games even more. Seriously though, work is overrated for what these Cardinals are doing on a nightly basis.
Daniel Poncedeleon (0-0, 2.04) will make his second start tomorrow evening, facing off against the veteran lefty, Hyun-Jin Ryu* (3-0, 1.77).
First pitch 9:10 c/t, aka take your midday naps.
Thanks for reading, cheers!
Game 126 is in the books.
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