Regression by the starting pitching continues
Game Result
Another rough start for a Cardinal pitcher, complete with multiple homeruns leads to another drubbing, this time by the Nationals. 8-2 is your final score.
Pre-game Notes
- After another long, rain delayed night, the Cardinals continue to yo-yo between five and nine games over the .500 mark.
- Andrew Dutkanych IV, a Cardinal 2024 draft pick who was recovering from TJ surgery has been activated and will start his professional career in Jupiter very soon. As a high-school player, he projected as a first-round selection. He ended up going to Vanderbilt, had injury plagued career there (elbow, hammy) and ended up as a draft-eligible sophomore. The Cardinals picked him up in the 7th round. This means he was 21 at the time of the draft (qualified for the draft), even though he was a sophomore by eligibility.
Line-up (and roster) Machinations
- Pallante toes the rubber for Cardinals. Gore for the Nats. He is a good lefty.
- Pozo is the DH tonight, trying to get a right lean to the line-up.
The Game
Since this is a night game, this will be the shorthand version, with highlights and commentary, but not a blow-by-blow scorecard read.
Pallante got shelled early. The Nats put a 3 spot on him in the top of the first, highlighted by a 3-run HR by Lowe following a 2-out walk to the ever-dangerous Josh Bell. The Nats struck again with multiple extra base hits in the 4th, putting another 3 spot on AP. Lots of hard-hit balls (> 100 mph).
In between, Contreras doubled and Burleson singled him in to plate one run for the Cardinals to initially answer the Nats three-spot. Otherwise, pretty normal offense against a lefty.
The Nats continued to add on against Pallante with a solo HR by Rosario in the 5th, putting them up 7-1, and then against King in the 7th with a Wood HR for an 8-1 lead.
Gore pitched well, 6 IP 1 ER 7K 1 BB.
Once into the Nats bullpen, the Cardinals broke through with a Winn RBI single but couldn’t break through for a bigger inning.
Pallante ended up absorbing 6 IP on 100 pitches. 6 IP, 7 ER, 1 K, 1 BB. Not a great line. Poor command was his undoing. King, Svanson finished up for the Cardinals. Svanson was particularly sharp.
Post-game Notes
- Wetherholt played his first game at AAA, with a triple and a homer to put a jolt in things.
- Walker is struggling at AA (rehab), putting up an .095 BA.
- Josh Baez is encountering a bit turbulence at AA. He has cooled considerably, and his K rate is up some. Looks like normal, non-linear development stuff. He may take time to adjust to this level.
- Cards play for the series win tomorrow.