The Cardinals are hoping their offense rejoins them as the road trip continues into Chicago
Game Result
The Cardinals continue a string of being shut out, this time by a 5-0 score. In a game where the Cardinals were 1-9 with RISP by the third inning, the process and the outcome was the supreme example of the outcome of providing “youngry” players runway. A series of inexperienced player mistakes and poor situational hitting combined to overwhelm a good, but not great pitching start by Sonny Gray. Extending the Cardinal scoreless streak to 28 innings.
Pre-game Notes
- Lots of guys banged up. Day off tomorrow and again Monday should hopefully provide some respite.
- The Pirates are playing their best baseball of the year. They have won 5 in a row.
- We appear to be at that runway stage where the Cardinals have to let young guys play and resolve their slump. Burleson has cooled. Gorman has cooled. Winn has cooled.
Line-up (and roster) Machinations
- A youthful/inexperienced line-up today. Sags at third. Fermin in right.
- Keller on the mound for the Pirates, Gray for the Cardinals.
The Game
An inning-by-inning breakdown, with score card entries and observations along the way. This format is one I usually reserve for day games during the week, with a bit more detail as I suspect people can’t readily listen or watch.
T1 – Donovan leads off with a double! Winn K’s. Burly walks. Gorman grounds into 3-6 force. Nootbar HBP. Sags grounds out to end the bases loaded threat.
B1 – K. Single. 6-4. F9.
T2 – Fermin with lead off double. Pages F7. Scott 4-3, advancing the runner. Donovan F9.
B2 – O’Neill doubles. Backwards K. Cardinal-killer Tommy Pham with RBI single. K. Then backwards K. Pirates up 1-0. Game feels over already. Pirates up 1-0.
T3 – Winn backwards K. Burly doubles. Gorman K’s. Nootbar with an IF hit (first scored an error, was changed later). Sags grounds out. Boy he has been a complete zero since his recall. I think he is like 0-for-20.
B3 – 4-3. 6-3. F7. Gray seems pretty sharp.
T4 – Fermin 5-3. Pages singles. Scott L7. Donovan backwards K.
B4 – 1-3. F9. K.
T5 – Winn 6-3. Burleson 4-3. Gorman K. Now Keller is on a roll.
B5 – 4-3. 5-3. P4. Gray is on a roll, too. Must be getaway day.
T6 – Nootbar 6-3. Sags 5-3. Fermin F7.
B6 – F8. 4-3. 4-3. By my count, Gray has set down 14 in a row. This has a familiar feel.
T7 – Pages backwards K. Scott F7. Donovan K’s.
B7 -Gray still in. Lead-off walk. I hate those! K. Single. Cardinal-killer Tommy Pham with another RBI single. O’Brien in, Gray out. He gets the ground ball he wanted, right to Donovan but O’Brien tried unsuccessfully to field it and deflected. They still got the out at first but missed the DP. Rookie mistake, not knowing where his fielders were. O’Brien compounds the error with another rookie mistake. A wild pitch advances the runners, which promptly leads to a 2 run single. A walk continues to compound things, as O’Brien is still probably distracted by his first mistake. A K ends the inning. Pirates now up by 5-0.
Grays final line is 6.1 innings, 4 R, 6K, 1 BB.
T8 – Santana in. Keller out. Winn F8. Burleson walks. Gorman F7. Nootbar P5.
B8 – Leahy in for O’Brien. He has worked himself to the chase side. Single. K. F8. K.
T9 – Sags F9. Fermin K. Pozo with a pinch-hit single. Scott walks, Donovan pops out.
Post-game Notes
- Lots of traffic today, but unable to advance runners or get a key hit.
- Attention to detail is something it takes young guy mistakes to drive home.
- Now 3-3 on road trip, on to Chicago.