Today was a weird day. I say that because the Cardinals and Royals just played an entire series in one day, albeit just a two game set, but still. When was the last time you’ve seen that?
Game 1 didn’t go so well for the Cards, getting just two hits vs Royals starter, Brad Keller. Keller flashed some command issues, walking four over his 7+ innings of work.
On the other hand, Wacha Flocka fell victim to another big inning. The Royals put together a 6 run 3rd inning, sending all nine to the dish. Soler delivered the big blast, sending a 3 run shot to LF.
The only offense for the Cards would come in the bottom of the 8th. Swags added to his team leading rbi total, sending a two run double off the base of the LCF wall to score Carp and Goldy to make it 8-2 Royals.
That’s where game 1 ended.
On to game 2. (this one is much better)
The Cardinals bats woke up for the nightcap, collecting 12 hits, shelling Homer Bailey after just 1.2IP.
Bailey would surrender 5 earned over the first couple innings, spotting Waino an early 5-0 lead.
Carp and Swags put together excellent at bats in the bottom of the 1st vs Bailey. Carp would draw a 9-pitch leadoff walk, and Goldy then roped a single into LF. After a Deez fly out to Merrifield, Swags would work a 12 pitch at bat, ending it with an exclamation point! Swags sent his 14th HR of the season down the RF line, bringing his rbi total to (45).
Bailey eventually got thru the 1st, but it would take him 42 pitches to do so, making Keller’s start in game 1 clutch.
Leadoff Guy would send a two run blast off Bailey in the 2nd, sneaking one over the RF wall into the Cards pen to score Waino (single) to make it 5-0.
Waino battled thru his 5 innings tonight, working around some crucial jams. Waino worked around a one out bases loaded jam in the 1st, inducing an inning ending, 4-6-3 double play on Dozier.
The Royals tried pushing a little comeback together in the 3rd, plating a couple on Waino on 3 hits. Merrifield would double and eventually steal 3B, Mondesi would drive him in with a single, and Soler would drive him in with a two out single, making it a 5-2 Cards lead.
Waino found a way to work around 4 free passes and a HBP, stranding 7 Royals runners over 4 innings.
Dozier would inch the Royals closer in the 5th, taking a Waino cutter to deep LF, to the right of Big Mac Land for a solo shot, making it a 5-3 game.
G-Spot, Miller, Martínez, and Brebbia would all work scoreless innings over the next four frames. They would give up just one hit, a leadoff single to Gant’s first batter outta the pen, Maldonado.
The Cards added 5 insurance runs in the 6th and 7th. Dex led off the 6th with an oppo taco HR to the Cards pen, yes, it was from the right-side.
Yadi would drive in Swags with a single in the 7th, after Swags collected a double. KoWo sent the dagger with Yadi and Dex (3-4) on base, getting an inside fastball from Barlow (who struck out the first 4 he faced) and sending it to RF to make it 10-3 Cards.
Miller and Martínez had some fantastic outings. Miller would face all lefties and Mondesi (switch), striking out two in a 1-2-3 inning. Miller got Lopez on a filthy slider for his first victim and Mondesi with the heater for number two.
Tsunami worked an 8 pitch, 1-2-3 8th. And boy, did I miss seeing that lethal change at the bottom of the zone. Dozier knows what I’m talking about with that strikeout to leadoff the inning.
Little note: the Cardinals struck out 11 times in game two, 6 coming from Carp and Goldy.
The Cardinals (25-24) have the day off tomorrow before welcoming in the Braves for a three-game weekend set.
Cheers, Stew
Game one of the doubleheader