VEB Open Thread – Thursday, 09/02/21

The Cardinals split yesterday’s doubleheader in Cincy, taking the first game on the strength of Paul Goldschmidt’s two homers, and dropping the second game when Nick Castellanos went off for the Reds. St. Louis did take two of three overall, and they are now 68-64.

Miles Mikolas turned in three innings in the first game on Wednesday afternoon, and St. Louis turned to Genesis Cabrera for two scoreless innings following Mikolas. After Cabrera (who eventually got the win) exited, Luis Garcia and Giovanny Gallegos pitched scoreless innings to secure the victory in game one. Goldschmidt’s two home runs highlighted the afternoon, as well as Harrison Bader’s solo shot as part of his 3-for-4 day. Overall, the Cardinals had 14 hits in the first game.

Cardinals starter J.A. Happ had his first real clunker of a game in the night cap. The lefty Happ recorded just three outs and pitched to five batters in the second inning. The final line: 1 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 0 Ks. After 14 hits in the first game, the Cardinals had just 3 hits in the second game — two of them home runs, hit by Tommy Edman and Nolan Arenado. The Reds scored two in the first, seven in the second, two in the third, and another in the fifth for a 12-2 win to salvage a win in the three-game series.

The Dodgers jumped over the Giants for the lead in National League West, so it’s now the Giants holding the top Wild Card spot. The Reds are clinging to the second spot, with the Padres a half-game back, and the Phillies and Cardinals both 2 ¹⁄₂ games back.

Over in the American League, the Yankees and Red Sox hold the two Wild Card spots. The Athletics are two games back, with the Mariners 3 ¹⁄₂ behind, and the Blue Jays trailing by 4 1/2.

The Cardinals are off today and are travelling north to Milwaukee to start a three-game series over the weekend with the Central-leading Brewers. Adam Wainwright and Freddy Peralta will toe the rubber in Friday’s opener, a 7:10 PM Central start.

Have a good day!