Game 20 Recap vs Reds
Jesse Winker would greet Carlos Martínez with a leadoff single to start the day. Winker moved to second base on a sac-bunt from Jose Peraza, only to be stranded.
Carlos was careful with, essentially, the only Reds threat, Joey Votto, walking him to put another runner on with only one out.
This is where he buckled down, earning back-to-back strikeouts of Gennett and Duvall, stranding two.
Carlos wouldn’t allow another hit until the 5th inning, a leadoff single to Blandino.
Carlos would rack up four more strikeouts before the Blandino single, and his slider was on point.
The Cardinals lineup was given a new look today, seeing Carpenter back at leadoff, Yadi batting second, a Dex in the five spot.
Yadi (2-3, RBI, & SB) would single up the middle his first at bat and later steal his second bag of the year, moving into scoring position.
With Ozuna batting, Yadi got a little too antsy on the bases. He tried advancing to third on a Homer Bailey pitch in the dirt, getting thrown out by catcher, Tucker Barnhart.
The Cardinals wouldn’t be held scoreless much longer, plating two runs in the 2nd.
Swags Ozuna would start the inning off with a dribbler for an infield single.
Following a Fowler fly out to CF, Paul DeJong would drop a bomb. A two run bomb to be exact.
DeJong took “Homer” deep to CF making it 2-0 Cardinals.
Carlos didn’t run into much trouble today. His biggest test came in the 5th.
With the Blandino leadoff single, Bailey would lay down a sac-bunt to advance him to second.
Jesse Winker followed with a walk, bringing in Peraza.
Peraza looked to ground into an easy 5-4-3 double-play, but Kolten Wong thought there was two outs in the inning, apparently.
This was huge because now Votto was coming up to bat, representing the go-ahead run.
Carlos would end the threat, getting Votto to fly out to CF.
Kolten Wong would make up for his miscue quickly, making the best defensive play of the season for the Cardinals, to this point.
Following a leadoff single from Gennett to start the 6th, Wong would range 69 feet into the RF grass to rob Duvall of a base hit, doubling off Gennett at first.
Carlos would end the inning and his afternoon with a bang, striking out Schebler, his seventh of the game.
Dex would leadoff the bottom of the 6th with a HR to the Cardinals bullpen, on his bobblehead day, no big deal.
With 91 pitches (56 strikes), Matheny would pinch-hit for Carlos in the 6th with 2 outs and runners on the corners.
Newly entered reliever, Amir Garrett, would get his only out of the day, forcing Tyler O’Neill to ground out to second.
Luke Gregerson would make his second appearance of the season, recording to quick ground ball outs.
Phillip Ervin would knock a two out single into LF, and with a lefty coming up, Matheny went with his only lefty, Lyons.
Lyons was fighting it all day, not recording an out and eventually leaving the game with a 3-3 tie.
Lyons would give up a single to Winker, RBI single to Peraza, walk Votto, and a 2-RBI single to Gennett.
Jordan Hicks would take over and completely dominate over the last 2.1 innings.
With the leading run on third base, Hicks would record a one pitch fly out to LF of Duvall.
The game wouldn’t be tied long, Yadier Molina had different ideas.
With one out in the bottom of the 7th, Yadi would unload on a Jared Hughes pitch for a solo HR, his team leading 6th (tied with DeJong) of the year.
Hicks came out to toss the 8th inning after recording one out on one pitch. He would hit Schebler with a pitch to bring up Barnhart.
Hicks would throw a sinker to perfection, inducing a smooth 6-4-3 double-play.
Blandino would be the last out of the inning, grounding out to shortstop, a quick inning of work for Hicks.
Would he go back out for the 9th to finish the job? Matheny let the young flame-thrower finish it off.
After a pop out of Ervin to shortstop, Hicks would find trouble, allowing the next three batters to reach base.
Winker would walk, Peraza HBP, and Votto walked. The strike zone seemed to tighten on some pitches on the black for Hicks.
With a Cardinal killer, Scooter Gennett coming up, things got interesting.
Hicks would win the battle, getting the final two outs on one pitch. A 6-4-3 double play to end the game with a 4-3 Cardinals victory. It was the third double play the Cardinals forced on the day.
The Cardinals are now (6-0) on the year vs the Reds and (10-0) there last ten games against them.
The Cardinals (12-8) look to sweep the Reds (3-17) for the second time this season tomorrow behind Miles Mikolas (2-0, 4.26).
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