\
Today was all about Uncle Charlie. I don’t think that’s a question. Sure, the bats finally came to life after a dull four game skid. But for a fella celebrating his 39th birthday to throw a complete game (23rd career CG)??? Get the heck outta here. The journey this man has been on the last 3-4 seasons has been masterful. He even said it himself postgame, about how he thought he was done three years ago and to be here now, throwing 122 pitch complete games to move to (3-0, 2.65) on the season? Remarkable.
This was also another milestone day for Waino’s battery mate, as Yadi would be playing in his 2,000 career game.
Waino started his afternoon off with an easy 1-2-3 inning on 11 pitches, getting a strikeout of Hernandez looking to start his day.
The 2nd and 3rd innings were the innings were he’d run into his trouble, and it still wouldn’t matter because he was in freaking cruise control from the 4th inning on.
Tommy Edman would make a nice play in foul territory to start the top of the 2nd on Santana. Franmil Reyes would then draw the first walk of the game from Waino and Tyler Naquin would make it count, sending a two-run shot scraping the RF wall to make it 2-0 Cleveland.
The Cardinals offense would wake up for the first time in 4 games in the bottom half of the 2nd. It started with a Pauly Deez one out single to RF and Yadi followed with a single of his own the other way to put runners on the corners. Carpenter then drew the first walk of the game from Civale to load the bases for Dex.
What Dex was able to do this weekend wearing that #42, with all that’s going on in this crazy world, was the highlight of my weekend. Dex roped a two-run double into the RF corner off Civale to tie things at 2-2, scoring Deez and Yadi.
Another moment we all needed happened next, as Dylan Carlson ripped a two-run single down the 1B line past Santana to plate Carp and Dex to give the Cardinals a quick 4-2 lead. The hits are about to start falling for Dylan, remember this.
Waino would battle again in the 3rd after giving up a leadoff single to DeShields. Waino had his way with Cesar Hernandez for the second straight time, striking him out looking again on a front door sinker at 90mph, his second of the game. Waino and José Ramírez would have another good battle next, as Ramírez worked the second and final walk from Waino to put two runners on Francisco Lindor.
Lindor would get a high fastball on the outer half from Waino and drive it deep to the RCF gap, but Dex would glide under it for the second out.
This is officially when Waino caught the groove, striking out Santana on a 76mph Uncle Charlie bean, his 3rd punch out of the game.
The Cards would add another run for Waino in the bottom half of the inning. Goldy was the only means of offense though, driving a one-out double into LF. Brad Miller would move him over to 3B with a groundout to Hernandez at 2B. Goldy would score on a balk from Civale, as a gust of wind must’ve blown his body in a weird way. I swear this is the third balk this homestand.
The Cardinals would sprinkle in two more courtesy runs for Waino throughout his outing. Dex would keep his great day rolling, belting his team leading 4th HR (solo) to RF off Hill to make it 6-2 Cardinals.
Pauly Deez (3-4) would rake a couple of doubles in his final two at bats, crossing the plate on a Yadi single to LF off Cimber to make it 7-2 Cards.
Waino would breeze through his final 6 innings, mowing down six more Indians. Here’s his pitch count those innings:
4th- 11 pitches
5th- 13 pitches
6th- 9 pitches
7th- 10 pitches
8th- 10 pitches
9th- 12 pitches
I’d say that’s pretty efficient. The final Indians base runners of the game would be Lindor to leadoff the top of the 6th, hitting a single to LF. He would also be quickly retired on an inning ending, 6-4-3, double play. You get the picture by now. Waino kicked ass, and everything about today was awesome. Ending with Waino and Yadi getting Reyes to fly out to Carlson (LF) to end the game on the 122nd pitch and meeting each other in front of the mound (masks on) for the greatest hug of all time. Today was awesome, even for 2020. I’m looking forward to more of it. Thank you, Uncle Charlie. Happy birthday!!
The Cardinals (12-13) head to Cincinnati to take on the Reds (15-19) for a three game series. Game one is Hudson (0-2, 3.32) vs DeSclafani (1-1, 5.71). Worth noting, the Cardinals will miss Bauer and Castillo for the second consecutive series. YES!! Time to make up some ground.
First pitch from GABP is scheduled for 5:40pm c/t.
Cheers, Stew