Michael Wacha was dominate today, minus his little blip against reliever, Aaron Wilkerson. We’ve almost come to expect this with Wacha when he is pitching vs the Brewers, and I know that sorta stuff really doesn’t matter, just like his absurd dominance during day games, but, it’s something right
Not only was Wacha flocka great today, the bats rattled off 15 hits to assault Brewers pitching, specifically starter Corbin Burnes.
Burnes is battling a little issue with giving up the long ball to start the early portion of the season, and that issue followed him into this afternoon’s start.
Burnes and Wacha each worked 1-2-3 innings to begin the day, Burnes picking up a couple k’s, while Wacha snagged one on Ben Gamel.
The Cardinals would bring across 5 runs spanning from the 2nd-4th innings, recording 10 hits, three of which were extra bases.
Swags started the scoring off, blasting a lead off shot to LCF on a Burnes fastball to begin the 2nd. Ozuna now has 8 HRs on the season, 7 of which have been hit since last Monday.
After Cafecíto struck out on a filthy Burnes slide piece, the Cardinals would string together three hits in-a-row. Dex and KoWo. This extended things to backup catcher, Matt Wieters, who keeps cashing in with these type of opportunities. Wieters ripped an rbi single to RF like he did vs the Dodgers on 04/11, plating Dex to make it 2-0.
Goldy would lead off the top of the 3rd with his second ground ball double of the season, ripping it up the middle past the glove of Arcia. Pauly Deez brought in Goldy from 2B with an rbi single up the middle on the shifted infield. Swags then worked a free pass to bring in Cafecíto, who still has yet to fully click.
Cafecíto kept the bad luck hitting going, grounding into a 6-4-3 double play.
KoWo did some two out damage though, driving an rbi single to drive in DeJong to make things 4-0 Cards after two and a half.
Wacha would strand two, two out, doubles in the 2nd and 4th innings to Shaw and Moustakas, picking up 5 k’s thru the first 4 frames.
My favorite strikeout of the game came against Grandal in the 4th. Wacha threw the best changeup of his season, I mean this thing was a freaking unit, a hammer. RIP to Grandal this at bat, you didn’t deserve to look that foolish.
The Leadoff Guy would send Burnes deep for the second Cards HR of the day, launching a solo shot to RF (419ft.) to open the lead up to 5-0.
The Brewers would get on the board with two down in the bottom of the 5th, courtesy of their relief pitcher, Aaron Wilkerson. Wilkerson, who relieved Burnes in the 4th, would blast a two-run shot to LF, scoring Arcia to make it a 5-2 game.
The bottom of the 6th didn’t get off to a picture perfect start, as Wacha walked Yelich, which isn’t the worst possible outcome. But Flocka would come back and strikeout Grandal on a heater, his 7th of the game. Moustakas and Braun followed that, both popping out to Deez at SS.
Johnny G-Spot relived Wacha in the 7th, after Wacha let up a leadoff single to Shaw, drawing his afternoon to an end. Gant came in and immediately induced a 6-4-3 double play ball off the bat of Aguliar. G then reached back, hitting 96mph on the gun to strikeout Arcia.
With Wilkerson still pitching into the 8th inning, KoWo would rip a one out double into shallow RF, hustling out the throw for the two bagger, his third hit of the day. The backup dude, Matt Wieters, decided to knock in his second rbi of the afternoon, lacing the ball thru the right side of the infield, like always. KoWo scored on the play to make it a 6-2 Cards lead.
Andrew Miller and Jordan Hicks would get the final two innings, Miller getting himself into a little mini jam. Hernan Pérez (pinch-hitting) ripped a double into the LF corner, turning things over to the top of the order and Manny Piña (pinch-hitting for Gamel). Piña battled, eventually striking out on a fastball offering from Miller.
Yelich had to get on the board someway, if the Cards were actually gonna hold him homer-less, so he decided to line an RBI single up the middle to cut the lead in half at 6-3.
Miller escaped further damage getting Grandal to line out sharply to Wong and Moustakas to pop out to Carp.
Pauly Deez would collect his fourth hit of the game in the top of the 9th vs Petricka, getting stranded at first base.
Jordan Hicks was given the 9th inning today in a save situation, walking the leadoff batter, Ryan Braun. Ya know what they always say about leadoff walks, “they always come around to score.” Well, unless you possess the raw stuff Hicks flashes.
After the Braun walk, Hicks would induce an easy 4-6-3 double play on Shaw, wiping the bases clear for Aguilar.
Hicks ended the game punching out Aguilar on a 1-2 slider, getting him to whiff on a pitch in the other batters box. I am sure Matt Wieters had quite the adventure in the 9th, bless that man.
With the win, the Cardinals (10-8) head back home for a nine-game homestand, getting things started with a three-game weekend set vs the Mets (10-8).
Uncle Charlie (1-1, 3.94) gets the nod in game-one Friday night, matching up with veteran substitute teacher, Jason Vargas* (1-0, 14.21).
First pitch at 7:15pm c/t. Finally a normal start time.
Cheers, Stew