There were several feel good moments for the St. Louis Cardinals in game 1 of a day/night doubleheader Saturday. Bryan Torres made his Major League debut and collected his first hit and home run while Andre Pallante was sharp and Jordan Walker hit his first Great American Ball Park home run as the Cardinals beat the Reds 8-1. There was even a “tarps off” Cardinals group that grew as the game progressed.
The dastardly Cincinnati Reds were the first to score as Nathaniel Lowe crushed a 398 foot home run into the right field seats in the bottom of the 2nd inning giving the Reds a 1-0 lead. Fortunately for Andre Pallante and the St. Louis Cardinals, that was one of only two hits they would get off of him. Pallante was a little shaky in the first couple of innings, but overall it ended up being one of Andre’s best starts of the year. He was stellar. He gave the Cardinals six strong innings allowing just 2 hits and that lone earned run.
The St. Louis Cardinals bats would not let that lead stand for long as they took advantage of Reds pitcher Chris Paddack suddenly being unable to find the strike zone as JJ Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera both drew 1-out walks. Alec Burleson made sure that the phrase “walks come back to haunt you” came true as he ripped a single to right field tying the game 1-1. Jordan Walker hit into a fielder’s choice avoiding the double play after Alec’s single giving St. Louis a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals would add to their lead in the top of the 4th inning, but it could have been so much better. Masyn Winn led off with a single followed by Bryan Torres who made his MLB debut today after 10 years in the minor leagues. He was rewarded for all those years of hard work and perseverance with his first Major League hit.
After Prieto struck out, JJ Wetherholt ripped a ball down the right field line glancing off of the first baseman’s glove and trickling into short right field giving the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.
Bryan Torres was held at third base on JJ Wetherholt’s hit which would come back to bite the Cardinals as Ivan Herrera grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the top of the 4th inning with St. Louis only getting 1 run out of a bases loaded with one out opportunity.
Jordan Walker would not miss his opportunity in the top of the 7th inning, though. After Ivan Herrera walked, Jordan would unload on a 1-1 pitch off of reliever Connor Phillips and send it 389 feet into the right field seats for his 14th home run of the year padding the Cardinals lead to 5-1. It was Jordan’s first home run in Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park meaning he has homered in all NL Central opponent parks now.
Ryne Stanek was brought in for some late innings relief and he had a drama-free 7th inning with the exception of a two-out walk to Suarez, but it led to nothing for the Reds which is the way we like it. George Soriano followed Stanek’s lead and tossed a relaxing bottom of the 8th inning for St. Louis, too.
The Cardinals would continue to pile on the Reds in the late innings as Victor Scott II ripped another hit (3 for 4 today just like I predicted) and then Ivan Herrera hit a triple into deep right center which the Reds could not handle scoring Victor making it 6-1 Cardinals in the top of the 8th inning. It would get even better in the top of the 9th as Masyn Winn walked and then Bryan Torres put a pretty swing on a 2-1 pitch and planted it in the right field stands for a no-doubt home run giving the Cardinals their final score lead of 8-1.
Matt Svanson finished off the Reds in the bottom of the 9th inning giving Riley O’Brien rest so he’s ready for duty in game 2 Saturday night if needed.
St. Louis will try for a doubleheader sweep in Game 2 as they’ll start Kyle Leahy. He’ll go up against Chase Petty who will be the Reds game 2 starter. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15pm central time and will be a national TV broadcast on Fox.
