Quick Stats:
· Mathew Liberatore: 5.0 IP, 4 Hits, 2 Runs, 4 Walks, 4 Strikeouts (No Decision)
· Steven Matz: 1.2 IP, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 2 Walks, 3 Strikeouts (Win)
· Brad Keller(CHC): 1.0 IP, 5 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Strikeout (Loss)
· Alec Burleson: 3-5, HR
· Yohel Pozo: 1-1, Pinch Hit 3-run HR
· Michael Busch(CHC): 3-5, HR
STL: 13 Hits, 8 Runs, 2 Walks, 8 Strikeouts
CHI: 9 Hits, 6 Runs, 6 Walks, 9 Strikeouts
The Game Story: The Cardinals send out Mathew Liberatore to face off with the Cubs’ opener, Drew Pomeranz, in the windy city.
1st Inning: Brendan Donovan leads off the game by drawing a walk. Masyn Winn strikes out swinging. Willson Contreras draws a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Alec Burleson hits a single to center to load the bases. Chicago brings in Chris Flexen to relieve Pomeranz. Thomas Saggese singles to right, driving in two runs before advancing to second on a throwing error by Kyle Tucker, Cardinals lead 2-0. Lars Nootbaar pops out to third for the second out. Nolan Gorman flies out to left to end the top half ot the inning. Ian Happ draws a walk. Kyle Tucker hits a single to right to put runners on first and second with no outs. Seiya Suzuki strikes out swinging. Pete Crow-Armstrong draws a walk to load the bases with one out. Dansby Swanson strikes out swinging for the second out. Carson Kelly flies out to right to end the inning.
2nd Inning: Pedro Pages flies out to right. Victor Scott II flies out to center for the second out. Brendan Donovan singles to center. Masyn Winn singles to left to put runners on first and second with two outs. Willson Contreras strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. Michael Busch hits a home run to center to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 2-1. Nico Hoerner flies out to center. Matt Shaw grounds out to first for the second out. Ian Happ draws a walk. Kyle Tucker flies out to center to end the inning.
3rd Inning: Alec Burleson grounds out to first. Thomas Saggese strikes out swinging for the second out. Lars Nootbaar pops out to third to end the top half of the inning. Seiya Suzuki strikes out swinging. Pete Crow-Armstrong flies out to center for the second out. Dansby Swanson singles to left. Carson Kelly grounds out to short to end the inning.
4th Inning: Nolan Gorman hits a home run to the left field bleachers and the Cardinals lead 3-1. Pedro Pages grounds out to third. Victor Scott II flies out to right for the second out. Brendan Donovan grounds out to second to end the top half of the inning. Michael Busch doubles to right. Nico Hoerner draws a walk to put runners on first and second. A passed ball by Pages sends the runners to second and third with outs. Matt Shaw hits a chopper to third, and Saggese throws home and gets the runner at home to put runners on first and second with one out. Nico Hoerner steals third. Ian Happ grounds out to third as Hoerner scores, and the score is 3-2. Kyle Tucker grounds out to third to end the inning.
5th Inning: Chicago brings in Ryan Brasier to relieve Flexen. Masyn Winn flies out right. Willson Contreras singles to right. Alec Burleson singles to right to advance Contreras to third. Thomas Saggese grounds into a double play to end the top half of the inning. Seiya Suzuki flies out to center. Pete Crow-Armstrong strikes out swinging for the second out. Dansby Swanson grounds out to first to end the inning.
6th Inning: Chicago brings in Caleb Thielbar to relieve Brasier. Lars Nootbaar flies out to center. Nolan Gorman pops out to first for the second out. Pedro Pages strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. Cardinals bring in Kyle Leahy to relieve Liberatore. Carson Kelly hits a ground-rule double to center. Michael Busch singles to left to put runners on first and third with no outs. Nico Hoerner comes up to the plate. A Leahy wild pitch advances the runners to second and third with no outs. Hoerner hits a single to center, bringing in a run to tie the game 3-3 with runners on first and third and no outs. Matt Shaw comes up to the plate. Leahy throws a wild pitch that scores Busch, and Chicago leads 4-3, and the runner advances to second. Shaw grounds out to short for the first out. Oliver Marmol comes out to bring in Steven Matz to relieve Leahy. Ian Happ draws a walk to put runners on first and second. Kyle Tucker flies out to center for the second out. Seiya Suzuki draws a walk to load the bases with two outs. Pete Crow-Armstrong strikes out swinging to end the inning.
7th Inning: Chicago brings in Ryan Pressley to relieve Brasier. Victor Scott II strikes out swinging. Brendan Donovan singles to left. Masyn Winn grounds into a double play to end the top of the inning. Dansby Swanson strikes out swinging. Carson Kelly hits a home run to left to extend the Cubs’ lead to 5-3. Michael Busch strikes out looking for the second out. Nico Hoerner pops out to first to end the inning.
8th Inning: Chicago brings in Brad Keller to relieve Pressley. Willson Contreras flies out to center. Alec Burleson hits a home run to center to cut the Cubs’ lead to 5-4. Thomas Saggese singles to right. Lars Nootbaar lays down a bunt hit to put runners on first and second with one out. Nolan Gorman hits a line drive to left, scoring Saggese to tie the game 5-5 and putting runners on first and third with one out. Cardinals pinch-hit Yohel Pozo for Pages. Pozo hits a home run to left out to Waveland Avenue to put the Cardinals up 8-5. Victor Scott II strikes out swinging for the second out. Brendan Donovan pops out to third to end the top half of the inning. Pozo remains in the game at catcher. Cardinals bring in JoJo Romero to relieve Matz. Chicago pinch hits Justin Turner for Matt Shaw. Turner pops out to second. Ian Happ strikes out swinging for the second out. Kyle Tucker reaches first on the catcher’s interference. Seiya Suzuki doubles to center, scoring Tucker to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 8-6. Pete Crow-Armstrong grounds out to first to end the inning.
9th Inning: Justin Turner remains in the game at third for Chicago. Chicago brings in Porter Hodge to relieve Keller. Masyn Winn flies out to left. Willson Contreras strikes out swinging for the second out. Alec Burleson strikes out looking to end the top half of the inning. Cardinals bring out Garrett Hampson in right to replace Alec Burleson. Cardinals bring in closer Ryan Helsley to relieve Romero. Dansby Swanson flies out to left. Carson Kelly flies out to left for the second out. Michael Busch strikes out swinging to end the game.
Final Score: St. Louis Cardinals-8, Chicago Cubs-6
Cardinals Player of the Game
Tie: Alec Burleson, who went 3-5 with a home run, and Yohel Pozo, who pinch-hit a three-run homer to give the Cardinals the lead in the 8th.
My Thoughts: This game was a good example of the Cardinals living up to their new moniker, the Youngry Birds, as they battled back to take game 2 of this series. After the Cubs fought back and took the lead, Yohel Pozo hit a clutch 3-run home run to give the Cardinals the lead that they never surrendered. After yesterday’s game, where the Cubs played a Home Run Derby against the Cardinals, this was a good win, and it sets up the rubber match tomorrow night, with the series win on the line. After this game, the Cardinals now sit 5.5 games back of the division leader, the Chicago Cubs.
Next Up:
St. Louis and Chicago will finish off their three-game weekend set with the Cardinals sending out Erick Fedde to face off against Chicago’s Mathew Boyd. The game will be broadcast on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN, with first pitch scheduled for 5:10 PM.