Tsunami Cruises through Seven, Helps Himself with RBI Double in 3-2 Win
Jedd Samardzija would toe the rubber for the Giants this afternoon, like Cueto, it was his first start coming off the DL in quite some time. This was Samardzija’s first start since 05/29 vs COL.
Samardzija would breeze through his first two innings of the afternoon, retiring the first six Cardinals he faced, throwing 23 pitches, recording one strikeout on Ozuna opening up the 2nd inning.
Carlos Martínez would work around two, two out hits in his first two innings this afternoon, stranding two runners on 30 pitches. Andrew McCutchen would hit a two out single in the bottom of the 1st, stealing second, and advancing to third on a throwing error from Francisco Peña. Brandon Belt would pop out to Carp to end the inning, Carp would range back into the OF to track down the pop up.
After Crawford and Sandoval flew out to open the bottom of inning number two, Hundley would hit a two out single to CF, bringing in Slater. Slater would ground out to Tsunami to end the inning.
Kolten Wong kept his batting average on the rise, opening the top of the 3rd with a single to the opposite field, luckily missing the glove of the diving Slater. With Peña batting, Wong would waste no time stealing second. Peña would ground out to Crawford, but Wong read it perfectly, advancing 90 feet to third base. Carlos Martínez, future Silver Slugger recipient, would help himself out next, delivering an RBI double to LF, chopping it over Sandoval’s head at third to make it 1-0 Cardinals. Samardzija ended the inning picking up back-to-back strikeouts on Carp and Pham.
Tsunami worked a Miles Mikolas-like inning in the bottom of the 3rd, retiring the side in 9 pitches, picking up his first strikeout of the afternoon on Hernández. Carlos got the Giants CF on an excellent changeup, his best pitch in his repertoire this afternoon.
The Cardinals would plate two more runs in the top of the 4th, getting things started with a pair of back-to-back, one out, singles from Swags and Pauly D. Pauly D would shoot his single to RF, and Swags was running on the pitch, putting runners on the corners for Dex, in search of any form of positivity. Dex would deliver with a sac-fly to Slater, bringing in Ozuna to make it 2-0 Cardinals. Kolten Wong would keep the inning alive, reaching base with a bunt single.
Francisco Peña then did his best Yadi impersonation, poking an RBI single over Hanson’s head into RF, scoring DeJong to make it 3-0. And Tim McCarver came up with the classic, “Francisco coming through in San Francisco” line.
Tsunami would work around a one out single from Brandon Belt in the bottom of the 4th. Carlos would get Crawford to fly out to Dex for the second out. Pablo Sandoval would hit a major league pop up to Tsunami for the final out, as Carp would lose the ball in the sun, and Carlos would stumble to make the tough out.
The Cardinals would try and ignite a one out rally in the 5th inning, getting a walk from Pham and a single smoked back up the middle from Cafecíto. Ozuna would ground out to Crawford and DeJong flew out to Hernández to end the insurance run bid.
Tsunami would set down the Giants in order in the bottom half of the 5th, picking up his 2nd strikeout, getting Slater on a great front door slider.
The Cardinals offense wouldn’t produce a hit the rest of the game, as the Giants bullpen (Holland, Dyson, Gearrin, Melancon) would combine to throw four scoreless innings.
The Giants would make things interesting in the bottom of the 6th, scoring a run to inch things closer. Hernández would open the inning with a single to LF. Carlos would respond getting two quick outs, Hanson on a fly out to Swags and McCutchen on a ground out to DeJong.
Brandon Belt would win the battle vs Tsunami, ripping an RBI double to RF, scoring Hernández to make it a 3-1 game. With the tying run in scoring position, on second base, Carlos would get Crawford to ground out to Martínez to end the inning.
Carlos would get one more inning, making the most of it. Carlos would get two quick outs again, getting Sandoval to ground out to DeJong and Hundley to fly out to Dex. Slater would hit a two out single to RF, but Carlos would end his day striking out Jackson (pinch-hitting) on an absolutely buck nasty changeup, it was probably the best one I’ve seen from Tsunami this year.
Tsunami’s final line: (7IP, 6 hits, 1r/1er, 0 bb, 3 k’s, 100 pitches, 70 game score)
Jordan Hicks would make an appearance this afternoon, getting to work the 8th inning in a two run game. Hicks would get the top of the order, getting Hernández to ground out to Wong to start the inning. Hanson would chop an infield single past Hicks to reach base safely.
Hicks would then strikeout McCutchen looking at a beautifully painted 102 mph sinker. Don’t you love how you’re not even impressed anymore, even though it’s absolutely ridiculous that this is a routine?
Brandon Belt would come through with his second RBI base-hit in as many trips, lining an RBI single to CF, scoring Hanson to make it a 3-2 game. Brandon Crawford would ground out to DeJong sharply to end the rally.
Bud Norris, having a couple days rest due to a stinger in one of his fingers on his right hand, would pick up his 17th save of the season. Norris would toss a 7 pitch, 1-2-3 inning, getting two ground outs to Wong, ending the game with a strikeout of Slater. Norris would make a cutter disappear underneath the bat of Slater to secure the 3-2 win for the Redbirds.
With the win, the Cardinals are now (13-13) in one run games this season.
Jack Flaherty (3-4, 3.19) will aim to get a big series win for the Cardinals tomorrow afternoon, facing off against the Mad-Bum, Madison Bumgarner (1-3, 2.58).
First pitch 3:05 c/t.
Game 88 is in the books
by Stew/@StewStilez
gifs/artwork by @cardinalsgifs
