Cards Score Early, Cruise To 5-2 Win

Today’s Game: John Gant opened with a routine inning. Not so for JT Brubaker; a walk and two-out homer by Nolan Arenado put the Bucs in a quick hole. Gregory Polanco singled to provide the Bucco action in the second, with Ka’ai Tom making the last out on a ball sent to the track. A free pass and one-out single got JT into another jam, and a bunt and pop single with two gone that dropped between Eric Gonzalez and Tom cashed them both in. Adam Frazier and Kevin Newman singled with two away in the third but were stranded. The Redbirds opened with a walk and knock. Again with two down, St Louis came through with a run-scoring double by their eight hitter, Edmundo Sosa, who posted his first MLB extra base hit and RBI. Gregory banged his second hit with one gone in the fourth and the Cards Dylan Carson did the same in an otherwise quiet frame. The fifth was 1-2-3 for both clubs. 

Pittsburgh opened the sixth with a double and walk; Will Craig’s liner was knocked down by Gant (he left the game afterward) and turned into a force. Genesis Cabrera was waved in, and a wild pitch/Polanco bouncer put the Pirates on the board. E-Gon’s infield rap, deflected by Cabrera, made it 5-2. A two-out Cardinal single brought Chasen Shreve on to face Carlson, who is hitting nearly .200 points higher against lefties than righties. The reverse logic worked, resulting in a called K. Giovanny Gallegos claimed the bump in the seventh and spun a clean frame. Chris Stratton left a couple of Redbirds aboard in their half. The Pirates went down in order in the eighth. Stratton gave up a single and contributed a couple of wild pitches, but no runs. Alex Reyes came in for the save. He walked Gregory before putting it to bed.

Keep movin’, nothing to look at here, just another Buc defeat at the hands of St. Louis. Bru didn’t have the best ball luck, but walking the leadoff hitter for three straight innings (and they were his only free passes) is bound to catch up, and it did – all three scored, and all with two outs.

Notes:

• Gregory had two hits and a walk while Kevin Newman added another pair of hits. The rest of the team combined for two more raps and a free pass.
• Indy OF prospect Travis Swaggerty banged his shoulder while sliding back into first base and was removed from the game; no word on the severity of the injury.
• If you haven’t scanned the standings lately, the Cards are in first in the Central going into tonight, 2-1/2 games up on the Brew Crew. Pittsburgh is in the cellar, 6-1/2 games back. Being 0-4 v the Redbirds doesn’t help matters.

Tomorrow’s Game: First pitch is at 7:45 and it will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Trevor Cahill takes on Jack Flaherty to close the two-game set.