Game Summary
The Cardinals open up by leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first, but struck for two runs in the second, keyed by a 2-RBI Burleson single. McGreevy came out and worked in his normal workmanlike manner, which was welcome against this line-up, which has really been scoring runs. The Nats got to him for 1 run in the third on some small ball. Jordan Walker launched a 3-2 pitch for a solo HR to extend the Cardinal lead in the fifth. Pozo added a late 2-RBI single to extend the lead.
McGreevy’s final line of 6 IP, 1 R, 4 K, 0 BB, 4 hits was very solid. The bullpen was unscored upon for the final three innings to close things out without any drama.
Line-up (and roster) machinations
- McGreevy starts for the Cardinals. The Nats send out old friend Miles Mikolas.
- A mostly stock “Herrera at the C” line-up for today, except Scott II gets the day off, Church to CF and Sags to LF. Urias at third, Gorman at DH.
- Walker and Gorman remain 4-5 in the line-up, after recent adjustments. Who had this in their pre-season predictions?
- It’s been a fascinating series. Arguably, the Cardinals lost a game they should have won, and then won a game they should have lost. What will the rubber game reveal?
The Game Details
A view from the box score, for those who want a deeper sense of the game.
T1 – Wetherholt grounds out, but Herrera follows with a solid single. Burleson with an infield single. Walker K’s (to Mikolas of all people!). Gorman walks, but Winn grounds out to end the threat.
B1 – The first two batters reach against McGreevy with singles, but a 1-6 force, F8 and 6-3 puts a quick end to the traffic jam.
T2 – Urias 4-3. Sags singles. Church with a solid smash pushing Sags along. A handy passed ball moved the runners up to 2nd and 3rd. Wetherholt with the backwards K. Situational hitting continues to be problematic. Mikolas gives Herrera the open base, but Burleson burns him with a 2-run single. Walker grounds out to end the inning. 2-0 Cardinals.
B2 – K. F7. F9. Quick inning.
T3 – Gorman walks again. Winn grounds into a force. Urias with the backwards K. Sags lines out.
B3 – Single. Another single makes it first and third. Boy, they’ve had trouble getting Wood out. So do a lot of people. An infield out scores a run. GIDP ends the threat. Now 2-1 Cardinals.
T4 – Lord in for Mikolas, who gives way after a short start (3 IP). Lord K’s Church. Weird. Wetherholt 5-3. Herrera 4-3.
B4 – L6. F7. 4-3 on a really nice play by Wetherholt ends the inning.
T5 – Burleson F8. Jordan with a solo HR. Gorman out 3u. Winn backwards K. Been a few of those today. Cards now up 3-1.
B5 – 4-3. 3-1. 4-3. Very workmanlike.
T6 – Urias 5-3. Sags 3u.
B6 – 1-3. 4-3. 1-3. Wetherholt has been outstanding with the glove today.
T7 – Perez relieves Lord. Wetherholt leads off with a walk. See the Cardinals relievers aren’t the only ones with the obligatory lead-off walk syndrome. Herrera follows with his own walk. Burleson singles in another run. Walker K’s. Pozo pinch hits for Gorman. Odd. Pozo GIDP to kill the rally. Now 4-1 Cardinals.
B7 – Svanson in for McGreevy. He issues the obligatory walk. 6-3. L6. Backwards K. Svanson pitching very tentative. He is working his way down the trust chart.
T8 – Winn K’s. Urias P2. Sags K’s. Still 4-1 Cardinals.
B8 – 5-3. 5-3. Svanson out, Bruihl in. He gets Wood out.
T9 – Church backwards K. Wetherholt F8. Herrera HBP. Burleson walks. Poulin replaces Henry on the mound. Walker walks. Pozo with a 2-RBI single to extend the lead. Winn P6. Cardinals now up 6-1.
B9 – O’Brien in for Bruihl. 5-3. 1-3. 3-1. No sweat. Cardinals win.
Post-Game Notes
- Solid starting pitching following by scoreless bullpen work is a good combination.
- The Cardinals finish the road trip with an overall 7-5 record on the season.
- Day off tomorrow, then home against the Red Sox.
