First pitch would be delayed for a little over two and a half hours today, due to a Tsunami alert.
Carlos Martínez was in cruise control on the mound.
He would tally at least one strikeout in all his 7 innings pitched, finishing the day with an eye-popping 11.
Carlos started his afternoon with a strikeout of Billy Hamilton and then gave up a double to Jose Peraza. Martínez was careful with next batter, Joey Votto, walking him to set up force attempts at all bases.
After forcing Scotter Gennett to groundout 3-6 on a fielder’s choice, Greg Garcia would keep his fuego series rolling. Garcia would rob Adam Duvall of an RBI single, ranging deep to his right, getting the force at second.
The only offense of the game, before the 7th inning at least, came in the top of the 2nd off the bat of Harrison Bader.
With 2 outs and Garcia on first base, Bader would take a Homer Bailey fastball to RF for a 2-run bomb, giving the Cardinals the 2-0 lead.
That’s all Tsunami needed.
He wouldn’t allow another hit until the bottom of the 4th inning when Duvall would smack a leadoff double to LF.
Carlos followed that walking Tucker Barnhart. But, yet again, Carlos would dance around trouble. Forcing Blandino to ground into a 6-4-3 double-play, advancing Duvall to third base.
Phillip Ervin didn’t stand a chance driving Duvall in, getting diced up by Tsunami to end the inning with his 6th strikeout.
Carlos would have his finest inning come in the 5th, striking out the side (Bailey, Hamilton, Peraza) with ease.
The Cardinals bats, in the meantime, were held silent by Bailey until the 7th inning.
Jose Cafecíto Martínez would smoke a one-out double to RF, missing a diving Billy Hamilton’s glove by a few feet. Yadi would step in the box next, driving a pitch to his liking over Hamilton’s head in CF. Martínez would come around to score on the single, as Yadi was thrown out by Hamilton at second trying to leg out an RBI double.
Carlos would end his night after striking out pinch-hitter, Gosselin in the 7th inning.
Tsunami would end the game with a line of: (7 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 4 BB, 11 k’s, & an 81 game score)
Tyler Lyons and Bud Norris would be the Cardinals relievers called upon to complete the four-game sweep.
Lyons would enter and immediately give up a solo-HR to the right handed batting, Billy Hamilton, of all people.
A Kolten Wong throwing error allowed Jose Peraza to reach base, bringing up the always dangerous Joey Votto.
Votto would be jammed by a great Lyons fastball, grounding into a 4-6-3 double-play. Lyons would escape the jam forcing Gennett to ground out, sending us to the 9th.
Mike Matheny would stick with Bud Norris in the 9th inning save situation today.
Norris, like Lyons, would allow a leadoff solo-HR to Adam Duvall, shrinking the Cardinals lead to 3-2. Barnhart would follow with a bunt single to third base and advance to second on a throwing error from Greg Garcia.
Norris would strikeout the next two batters (Blandino & Ervin) painting pitches.
Pinch-hitter, Devin Mesoraco, would reach base via a HBP from Norris.
Billy Hamilton would have the chance to play hero, but Bud Norris prevailed, snagging his third save.
For the second day in a row, as mentioned by @cardinalsgifs, the game ended with the Bader “brah” fist pump.
The Cardinals (9-7) travel to Wrigley Field to start a three game series with the Cubs (7-7) Monday night.
Thanks for reading, cheers!
Stew // @StewStilez
