Tommy Pham got things started off today against the delightful, Lance Lynn, lining a single into LF.
Cafecíto, batting in the 2-hole, drew a walk, Lynn’s 26 walk of the season.
With DeJong batting, Lynn would throw a wild pitch, allowing Pham and Cafecíto to move up a base.
Lynn produced back-to-back strikeouts of DeJong and Ozuna before bringing in the struggling, Dexter Fowler.
Fowler would lift a huge weight off his shoulders I’m sure, grounding a base hit into CF for 2 RBI’s, scoring Pham and Cafecíto, making it 2-0 Cardinals.
Miles Mikolas wasn’t his usual self this afternoon, letting the Twins cut the 2-0 deficit in half in the bottom of the 1st.
Mauer would get things started with a base hit into CF, before being retired on a smooth 6-4 fielder’s choice from Paul DeJong on the Dozier grounder.
Rosario and Kepler collected back-to-back singles to RF, Fowler committing a fielding error on Keller’s, scoring Dozier and allowing Rosario to move up to third base.
Mikolas got out of the jam with a huge 5-4-3 double play on Garver, the first of three double-plays turned by the Cardinals infield today.
The Cardinals would plate another 2 out run in the top of the 2nd inning, courtesy of none other than Cafecíto.
Peña started the inning with a one out walk, advancing to second on a Greg Garcia base hit to LF.
Lynn would earn his third strikeout of the afternoon, getting Tommy Pham, looking to escape another jam.
Cafecíto would lace an RBI single to RF, scoring Peña, extending the lead to 3-1.
The Twins, again, would get a run back in the bottom of the 2nd.
After a Logan Morrison leadoff walk, Mikolas 4th walk of the season, Buxton would reach base on a 1-5-4 fielder’s choice. Buxton would line a ball off Mikolas before Trap House would barehand the ball, throwing Morrison out at second. With two outs, Joe Mauer would deliver his 11th RBI of the season, sending a single to RF, scoring the speedster Buxton.
Mikolas ended the inning with his first strikeout of the day, on Brain Dozier, a 10 pitch battle.
Mikolas rolled his second double-play of his outing to end the 3rd inning. Rosario led the inning off with a single to RF and Kepler would fly out to Pham, bringing in Garver. Garver would get on top of the pitch, grounding into a huge 6-4-3 double-play.
Lance Lynn would be ran from this game after only 3 inning pitched. Lynn’s pitch count sky rocketed, finishing his outing with 82 pitches.
The Cardinals would add an important insurance run in the top of the 5th, off reliever Taylor Rogers*. Cafecíto led the inning off roping a double off the wall in LCF, leaving his bat at 111 mph, traveling 394 feet, that’s a home run in most ballparks. DeJong followed the double, trading places with Cafecíto on a RBI double to RF, his 19th RBI of the season, making it 4-2 Cardinals.
Mikolas ended up being removed from this game one out before being qualified for the win.
Mikolas started the inning walking his second batter of the game, a rarity, Gregorio Petit.
Mikolas retired Mauer on a fly out to Swags and Dozier would reach base on a two out fielder’s choice, 5-4. Eddie Rosario would single to CF, advancing Dozier to third base, ending Mikolas’ day.
Brett Cecil would work the last third of an inning, striking out Kepler on a nasty knuckle-curve, stranding two.
The Cardinals wastes a golden opportunity to extend the lead in the top of the 6th. Carp started the inning hitting a base hit to LF, yeah to LF. Something he will have to do more of facing the shift a majority of the time. Peña and Carp would execute a perfect hit-and-run, Peña hitting a grounder through the right side of the infield, advancing Lumber Carp to third.
Unfortunately, Magill would strikeout Garcia looking before Paul Molitor went to his pen, going with the righty, Ryan Pressly.
Pressly stranded Carp and Peña, striking out Pham and forcing Cafecíto to ground out to second.
Matt Bowman worked the 6th inning for the Cardinals pen, allowing a run on a Logan Morrison, oppo taco, solo blast to LF. Bowman ended the inning getting Adrianza looking at a 94 mph 2-seam fastball that tailed back towards the middle of the plate.
The Cardinals would add two more runs to their lead in the top of the 7th, cashing in on two walks from Pressly. DeJong and Fowler would get on and Trap House would drive DeJong in on a single to CF.
Lumber Carp would keep his big day rolling, lacing an RBI double down the RF line, scoring Fowler, making it 6-3 Cards.
A well-rested Jordan Hicks would get the 7th inning, allowing a leadoff walk to Petit.
But don’t stress, the kid is a ground ball machine. Hicks, on a 3-2 count, would induce the third double-play of the day, this one on Joe Mauer. Hicks ended the inning getting Dozier to fly out to Pham.
Phil Hughes came in to pitch the 8th inning for the Twinkies, surrendering an oppo taco to Mr. Steal Yo Girl, Tommy freakin’ Pham. Pham’s 8th dinger of the season, no pun intended.
But Greg Holland would make things interesting late in the bottom of the 8th.
Holland gave up an always awful, leadoff walk, to Rosario. After forcing Kepler to pop out to DeJong, Garver would single to CF and Morrison would follow with an RBI single, scoring Rosario.
Holland proceeded to walk pinch-hitter, Grossman, ending his outing only recording one out.
Bud Norris would come in for the five out save and do Bud Chuck things. Norris came in immediately throwing gas, striking out Escobar on a 96 mph fastball. With Petit batting, Norris would throw a wild pitch, allowing every runner to move up a base. Norris escaped further damage, getting Petit to ground out to DeJong.
The Cardinals wouldn’t score in the top of the 9th, but their two coldest hitters remained hot, collecting the only two hits of the inning.
Fowler led the inning off against Addison Reed, hitting a single to RF before Gyorko grounded into a double-play. Lumber Carp would get a taste of the RCF gap with two outs, ripping his second double of the game.
Norris would stay perfect on save opportunities (9/9), setting the top of the Twins lineup down in order.
Norris struck out Dozier on a filthy 95 mph heater on the outside part of the plate, gamecast listed it as a 4-seamer, but it looked to have some outward break to it.
Notes:
Fowler (2-3), with 2 walks and 2 RBI’s and Carpenter (3-5) with 2 doubles and an RBI, would have much needed games this afternoon.
Carpenter found himself in the 7-spot in the lineup this afternoon, and he apparently doesn’t plan on being there long.
The Cardinals (23-17) finish the road trip at (.500) and are coming home to host a four-game series with a surprising Phillies (24-16) team.
Game 39 is 'in the books'
by Stew // @StewStilez
