Game Highlights
The game tonight played out following the script of the previous 2 nights. Tight game. Cards get up early, but the offense is unable to extend against the starter or reach the Mariners bullpen. They again chase the M’s starter (Gilbert, this time) with a high pitch count. The Mariners’ equally struggling offense does just enough, which means they had a bit more power to their game and used it to win a close game. Tonight ended 4-2 in thirteen innings.
Line-up (and roster) machinations
- The list of AFL attendees is out. I’m still trying to figure it out.
- Another beautiful cloudy day in Seattle.
- Nootbaar, Church, Burleson in the outfield.
- Gorman, Fermin, Sags, Contreras in the infield.
- Pages and McGreevy the battery.
The Game Details
The first inning was mostly uneventful, except for a Herrera HR. The Cardinals loaded the bases with no one out in the second, but they did Cardinal things and came away with nothing. 3 straight K’s will do that. The Mariners were energized by the turn of events and rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the inning with a SacFly.
In the early part of this game, the Cardinals put runners on with the usual assortment of singles and walks and then left them stranded with K’s and pop-outs. This week, they’ve spiced that approach up by trying to bunt and generally demonstrated a woeful inability to do so. Tonight, Church popped up a bunt. Last night, I saw a batter try to bunt a pitch coming at his face! They were 1-7 with RISP (with 5 of those K’s) and 6 LOB through 4 innings.
In the meantime, McGreevy continued his workmanlike efforts. He ends up with a Quality Start. 6 IP, 4 K, 1 ER. Svanson replaced him in the seventh with a clean inning. Romero got the last out of the eighth and took the ninth. Reminiscent of both earlier games, the Cardinals worked Gilbert’s pitch count up and he was removed after 4.2 innings. The Cardinals continue their struggles against the Mariner bullpen.
This 1-1 game carried through unchanged through nine innings, moving to the tenth. Two horrible base running blunders by Herrera undo the extra runner in the top of the tenth. He fails to tag on a deep line out, then gets doubled off on a humping liner to CF. Ugly.
After Riley O’Brien pulls a magic act to work his way through the heart of the Mariner line-up to keep the game tied in the tenth, the Cardinals finally break-through in the eleventh when Saggese drives in Contreras with his fourth hit of the night. O’Brien returns for a second relief inning and promptly gets saddled with a blown save when a lead-off hit by Suarez scores the ghost runner. He then pulls another magic act by bailing himself out of a bases loaded, no out situation to leave the game tied, now at 2 each.
After the Cardinals strand the extra runner again, Fernandez winds his way through the 12th unscathed, too.
After the Cardinals strand the extra runner again, Fernandez came out for the 13th. One pitch, HR, game over. Mariners win 4-2, sweep series.
Post-Game Notes
- Didn’t Doc Howl tell us earlier today this Cardinals team doesn’t strikeout very much? I respectfully request a recount.
- Arenado, Donovan and King all played at Springfield tonight. King gave up a run, the MLB hitters went a combined 0-6 with 2 K’s.
- The Cardinals travel to Milwaukee, with a day off tomorrow before the series start.
