Thursday’s afternoon game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs can be described with two words: missed opportunities. Runners in scoring position not realized would be a problem for both the Cardianls and Cubs. Andre Pallante kept the Cubs relatively quiet, but would he get enough offensive support for a win? So many questions.
The St. Louis Cardinals were the first to score Thursday in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn drew one-out walks. That brought up Bryan Torres who singled to left scoring Nootbaar and giving the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead. That run would unfortunately be all St. Louis could manage in the bottom of the 2nd as Blaze Jordan and Nathan Church left runners in scoring position.
The Chicago Cubs tied the game in the top of the 4th inning when Alex Bregman slammed a one-out double. He would score when Lars Nootbaar forgot there was only one out when Ian Happ flew out to right allowing Bregman to score. File this under mistakes the St. Louis Cardinals cannot afford to make, but stuff happens and that tied the game at 1-1.
Both the Cardinals and Cubs would have opportunities to score in the middle innings, but no results until the top of the 7th inning when Dansby Swanson drew a one-out walk. That would end Andre Pallante’s day. By the way, if you didn’t see Masyn Winn’s play in the top of the 7th inning on a ball to deep short, it might be his best play of the year so far.
George Soriano would enter the game and be greeted by Swanson stealing second base. After Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out (a moment all of Cardinals Nation enjoys), Suzuki walked followed by a two-out single by Michael Busch scoring Swanson and giving the Cubs a brief 2-1 lead. Very brief.
JJ Wetherholt made sure the Cubs lead did not last long as he turned on a 77 mph sweeper in the bottom of the 7th inning tying the game at 2-2. We’re glad you’re gonna be a Cardinal for many years to come, JJ.
Ryne Stanek and Riley O’Brien were able to keep the Cubs from taking the lead in the top of the 8th and 9th innings. Could St. Louis walk it off like they did late Wednesday night? Blaze Jordan was first up in the bottom of the 9th, but he grounded out to second for the first out. Next up, José Fermín ripped a ball down the third base line which Bregman was unable to handle giving the Cardinals the winning run at first base. The reason the game was tied, JJ Wetherholt, was next facing Cubs reliever Webb. He grounded into a fielder’s choice as Hoerner forced Fermín at second. With two outs, it was Jordan Walker’s turn. He BARELY missed an 84-mph slider flying out to deep left field sending the Cardinals and Cubs to extra innings again.
In a bit of Deja vu, it was Luis Gastelum taking the mound for the Cardinals in the top of the 10th inning giving up 2 runs. Suzuki was the Cubs free runner at second base. To start the inning, Michael Busch grounded out to first which advanced Suzuki to third with just one out. Alex Bregman then lined a double down the right field line scoring Suzuki giving Chicago a 3-2 10th inning lead. Gastelum then had to deal with the fact that St. Louis Cardinals arch-nemesis Ian Happ was up and he promptly doubled scoring Bregman upping the Cubs advantage to 4-2. That’s all they would get, but is that all they would need?
Jordan Walker was the Cardinals free runner in the bottom of the 10th inning as Alec Burleson was the first St. Louis chance to strike back. He worked the count full against Webb before lining out to PCA in center who acted like the play was much harder than it actually was for the first out. Manager Oli Marmol sent Jimmy Crooks up as a pinch-hitter for Pedro Pagés which prompted the Cubs to remove Webb and bring in Aaron Civale. All Crooks could manage was a weak flyball to PCA which meant the Cardinals fate was up to Lars Nootbaar. He managed to work the count full before he struck out to end the game. Hard to deal with the reality of the Cubs taking 3 out of 4 from the Cardinals at Busch, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
The St. Louis Cardinals will get out their passports and visit Canada to take on the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend. The Cardinals will send Kyle Leahy to the mound while the Blue Jays will start All-Star Dylan Cease. First pitch is scheduled for 6:07pm central time and the game TV broadcast will be available on Cardinals.tv.
