To kick off tonight’s game, JJ Wetherholt singled on a ground ball to third baseman Carlos Correa. Iván Herrera flew out to center fielder Taylor Trammell for the first out of the game.
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Alec Burleson singled on a line drive to center fielder Taylor Trammell. JJ Wetherholt advanced to 3rd.
Jordan Walker singled on a sharp line drive to center fielder Taylor Trammell. JJ Wetherholt scored. Alec Burleson ran over to 3rd. It was 1-0 Cardinals!
View LinkLeahy looked good in the first inning. The Cardinals were up again and Church singled, and was then erased by a Pedro Pages ground into double play. Victor Scott II grounded out. 1-0 Cards still.
The top of the 3rd began with both Wetherholt and Herrera getting hit by a pitch. Neither were hurt. Alec Burleson walked to load the bases, but then Jordan Walker struck out. And then Nolan Gorman struck out. Right when it seemed like we would have another LOBster fest, Masyn Winn hit a seeing eye single between the 3rd baseman and shortstop! This would score two runs, Herrera and Burly. Nathan Church logged the third strikeout of the inning, but it was now 3-0 Cardinals!
After striking out multiple batters and looking like a good starting pitcher to begin the game, Kyle Leahy gave up solo home runs to Christian Vazquez and Yordan Alvarez! 3-2 Cardinals. It can never be easy, can it? Leahy has been good in innings 1 & 2, but once the third inning comes around, his effectiveness falls off a cliff so far this season.
In a hilarious beginning to the 4th inning, Pedro Pages hit a screaming double towards the left field line but still well fair, and Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido threw the ball directly into the ground. Even though the Astros stadium had a roof, the field looked wet and even sloshy, but not super obvious. I am not sure if the ball stuck to his hand somehow or what but it was awkward. Pedro Pages advanced to third on the throwing error.
Victor Scott II struck out, then JJ Wetherholt grounded out… Pedro Pages hit was not wasted though, Ivan Herrera singled sharply to center, scoring Pages!
View LinkTo end the inning for the Cardinals, Alec Burleson struck out.
The Cardinals were up 4-2 and Kyle Leahy was still in the game. Could he keep it at just 2 runs?
Cardinals challenged the play at 1st, the call on the field was upheld: Christian Walker reached on a fielding error by first baseman Alec Burleson. Loperfido grounded out. Christian Walker was at second. Catcher interference was called on Pedro Pages. Runners at first and second, 1 out. Taylor Trammell singled on a hit that was batted down by an awesome play by JJ Wetherholt, who almost had it in his glove. This ended up preventing a run because Kyle Leahy was able to strike out Christian Vasquez and Isaac Paredes, ending the inning!
He could hold it to two runs even with the bases loaded! This would be his 6th strikeout of the game!
The new guard of Cardinals could not do anything this inning, Walker and Gorman both struck out, then Winn grounded out.
Leahy was out again to pitch the 5th, and gave up another solo shot to Altuve! 4-3 Cardinals.
Despite a Church walk to begin the 6th inning, Pages, Scott and Wetherholt all failed to do anything about it.
Much to the cringe of some, Justin Bruihl relieved Kyle Leahy for the 6th inning. Justin Bruihl danced through the inning, unscathed. Loperfido, Smith, Trammell, 1-2-3.
The 7th inning was the Cardinals inning to break out. After Herrera flew out, Burleson almost hit a home run! It was a double off the wall towards left center. Then Jordan Walker got on base with a walk. After Gorman had looked kind of dejected most of the night, he clobbered one over the left field wall, a moon shot! This three run home run put the Cardinals up 7-3 and took the edge off this game, big time!
JoJo Romero made short order of the Houston lineup. We are blessed to have him on the team. I will enjoy it while I can, surely he will be good trade bait and we will not compete this season.
The Cardinals offense would not be done for the night. The 8th inning brought more rewards. While the inning began without promise, Pages and Scott ground out and strike out, respectively, the never give up attitude of the Cardinals offense was on display with a JJ Wetherholt walk, an excellent at bat… which set up #2 hitter Ivan Herrera, who was due! Herrera launched one in Houston, off the left field terrace wall (is that what it is called?). 9-3 Cardinals!!!
Ryne Stanek was into the game to pitch the 8th. Stanek toyed with Cardinals fans with a juggling feat involving high WHIP and a near disaster, but he also struck out the side and only gave up a run. What a miracle!
The Cardinals didn’t do anything in the 9th so it was up to George Soriano to finish it off, and he did! Altuve, Alvarez, and Carlos Correa all put down by big George.
- Wetherholt on base 2 out of 5 times in the leadoff spot, a hit and a walk
- Herrera hit his 2nd home run of the year and it was a 3 RBI shot!
- Burly was the WPA player of the game, narrowly edging out Herrera because he was on base 3 times tonight
- Walker extended his hitting streak to 12 games early in the game tonight!
- Masyn Winn had a key hit and was also a WPA player of the game along with Herrera and Burleson… Winn had 2 RBI on the night from that 1 hit
- Gorman matched Herrera’s three run home run with one of his own!
- Church and Pages actually contributed tonight but VSii was 0-4
- Astros starter Peter Lambert was bad enough tonight to have the worst WPA effect on the game…
- Except for bullpen arm Bryan Abreu who was even worse! 2 hits, 3 ER, a HR, in 6 batters faced
The Astros don’t seem to be the level of quality team we are used to, at least after watching this one game.
Next game is 6:10 CDT in Houston! Cardinals win 9-4 tonight, perhaps their most solid win of the season, even though Kyle Leahy was a bit shaky and the bullpen a little bit iffy.