Cardinals salvage sweep of Tigers with break through 7th inning on Fulmer, leaving the Motor City with a 5-2 win
Johnny G and Michael Fulmer matched up in quite the pitchers duel this afternoon, Fulmer carrying a perfect game into the 6th inning.
With the Cardinals offense struggling to get anything going, Fulmer pumped strikes, working ridiculously fast innings. Johnny G needed to be on the top of his game, and he delivered another quality start, really earning his stay in the rotation.
Fulmer set down the first 15 Cardinals this afternoon, striking out 4 through the first 5 frames. Fulmer only needed 59 pitches to zoom his way thru the first 5 innings.
Gant worked around a two-out double from Castellanos, punching out Goodrum looking at a four-seam fastball.
If only Gant could hit today.
Both pitchers would trade 1-2-3 innings in the 2nd, Johnny G getting Rodriguez on a perfect changeup.
Gant dodged early trouble in the 3rd, walking Lugo to begin the inning. Jones then flew out to Swags before Candelario would line into an unassisted double-play to Adams at 1B.
Yup the Cardinals still haven’t had a base runners, boring, I know, just bare with me.
Okay I will just skip to the fun now.
The Cardinals finally broke up the perfect game and no-hitter on Fulmer in the 6th inning, getting a leadoff walk from Muñoz and a single from Kelly into RF.
But the real fun started in the 5-run 7th inning from the Cardinals. The Rally Squirrel lives on, oh what a sweet reminder we all needed from that little fella that got things started, because what happened next was wild.
After Big City struck out to begin the inning, the Cards rattled off 3 straight base knocks; Swags and Pauly Deez both reached on back-to-back infield singles to Candelario at 3B. KoWo then ripped an opposite field RBI single to LF, bringing in Swags. Deez and Wong would move to 3B and 2B on the play. Muñoz then hit a sac-fly to RF, Goodrum would misplay the catch, dropping it for an error, allowing Deez to score, KoWo and Yairo to 3B and 2B on the throw in from RF. Garcia was then intentionally walked to load the bases for Kelly. The ball just kept bouncing the Cardinals way, as Kelly reached on an infield single to SS to drive in KoWo to make it 3-0.
Alcántara relieved Fulmer for the final 2 outs, Carp diving in Muñoz on a sac-fly to CF to make it 4-0. Cafecíto would extend the lead to five next, diving in Garcia with a single to LF.
Gant would give up 3 doubles, allowing 2 runs in the 7th to bring the end to his afternoon after pitching 6.2 fantastic innings.
Hudson would retire the final out of the inning to take things to the bottom of the 7th.
Gant’s final line: (6.2IP, 5 hits, 2r/2er, 1 bb, 6 k’s, 94 pitches)
Jordan Hicks and Tsunami worked the final 2 innings for Shildt’s worn down bullpen. Hicks would work an excellent 8th, striking Adduci with a high 102 mph sinker for the second out. Goodrum would tap a grounder back to Hicks, who would take it to the bag himself for the final out.
Umpires are bad. I will insert this right here because it needs to be here. And we know why, that Carp ejection was a load of crap.
Tsunami made quick work for his 2nd save in the 9th inning, working an 11-pitch, 1-2-3 inning for the 5-2 win, salvaging the sweep at Comerica Park.
The Cardinals (79-64) head back home for a 7-game homestand vs the Pirates (71-71) and Dodgers (4 gamer). Adam Wainwright (1-3, 4.00), yes you read that correctly, Adam Wainwright makes his first start since 05/13 @ SD inn game-one vs PIT. Waino will be tasked with battling Trevor Williams (12-9, 3.15). First pitch from the beautiful Busch Stadium 7:15 c/t.
Thanks for reading, cheers!
Game 143 is in the books
by Stew/@StewStilez
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