Ah, how about this, for a nice cold frosty one of a recap, baseball fans? Pull up a chair and listen in!
Top of the 1st
Well now, it’s 7:36 PM, down there at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Lars Nootbaar, he just takes one deep, but it’s caught out in left field by Chandler Simpson. One down, folks. Then Iván Herrera hits a grounder to second, and Tristan Gray, what a play he makes, throws it to first baseman Bob Seymour, and that’s two outs. Good gravy! And then Willson Contreras hits one to Carson
Williams, the shortstop, who throws it to Bob Seymour at first. That’s three outs, just like that. As Mike Shannon would say.
Bottom of the 1st
Chandler Simpson starts things off with a little ground ball single to second baseman Thomas Saggese. Then Junior Caminero, he grounds out softly to Miles Mikolas, the pitcher, who throws it to Willson Contreras at first. Simpson moves over to second. One out here, and the worm has turned. Oh, and what do you know? Chandler Simpson, he’s caught stealing third base! Yohel Pozo to Nolan Gorman, and he’s out. That’s two gone, folks. And then, Brandon Lowe, he’s got a long one out to right-center field! Get up baby, get up, get up! Oh, yeah, a solo home run! Rays take the lead, 1-0. Brandon Lowe’s got his 25th dinger of the season. Josh Lowe follows up with a ground ball single to second, deflected by Miles Mikolas. Then Jake Mangum, he hits a ground-rule double to right-center field, and Josh Lowe moves to third. Hunter Feduccia grounds out to shortstop Masyn Winn, over to Willson Contreras at first. Three outs, and the score is 1-0 Tampa Bay.
Top of the 2nd
Nolan Gorman, he draws a walk to start things off. Then Masyn Winn hits into a force out, shortstop Carson Williams to second baseman Tristan Gray. Gorman’s out at second, Winn’s safe at first. One out. Thomas Saggese hits a grounder to shortstop Carson Williams, over to first baseman Bob Seymour. Winn moves to second. Two outs. And then Yohel Pozo, he singles to right field, right past Josh Lowe. Masyn Winn scores, folks! We’re all tied up, 1-1! Pozo’s got himself an RBI single. Jordan Walker takes one to right fielder Josh Lowe in foul territory, and that’s three outs.
Bottom of the 2nd
Oh, mercy! Carson Williams reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Nolan Gorman. You just hate to see that, folks. Bob Seymour lines out sharply to left fielder Lars Nootbaar. One out. And then Tristan Gray, he gets a hold of one! Get up baby, get up, get up! A two-run homer to right field! Carson Williams scores. Rays take a 3-1 lead. Gray with his first dinger of the year. Chandler Simpson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Nathan Church. Junior Caminero grounds out to second baseman Thomas Saggese, over to Willson Contreras at first. Simpson moves to second. Two outs. Brandon Lowe strikes out on a foul tip. Three outs.
Top of the 3rd
Nathan Church lines out to second baseman Tristan Gray. One out. Lars Nootbaar grounds out to first baseman Bob Seymour. Two outs. Iván Herrera, he’s called out on strikes. Three outs.
Bottom of the 3rd
Josh Lowe starts things off with a soft ground ball single to third baseman Nolan Gorman. Then Jake Mangum singles to left field. Lowe moves to second. Hunter Feduccia lines out to left fielder Lars Nootbaar. One out. Josh Lowe steals third base, and Jake Mangum steals second. They’re just running wild out there, folks! Carson Williams singles on a ground ball to shortstop Masyn Winn. Josh Lowe scores! Mangum moves to third. Rays take a 4-1 lead! That’s Carson Williams’ first big league hit and RBI. And then, well now, with Bob Seymour batting, Carson Williams is picked off and caught stealing second base, shortstop Masyn Winn to first baseman. Two outs. And then Bob Seymour singles to right field, past Jordan Walker! Jake Mangum scores! The Rays are up 5-1! Bob Seymour with an RBI single. Tristan Gray walks, and Bob Seymour moves to second. Well, it’s a pitching change, folks. Anthony Veneziano replaces Miles Mikolas. Chandler Simpson grounds into a force out, shortstop Masyn Winn to second baseman Thomas Saggese. Gray is out at second. Three outs, and the Rays are up 5-1.
Top of the 4th
Willson Contreras grounds out to third baseman Junior Caminero, over to first baseman Bob Seymour. One out. Nolan Gorman, he walks. Masyn Winn strikes out swinging. Two outs. Thomas Saggese singles on a ground ball to right fielder Josh Lowe. Gorman moves to third. Yohel Pozo grounds out to shortstop Carson Williams, over to first baseman Bob Seymour. Three outs.
Bottom of the 4th
Junior Caminero walks to start the inning. Brandon Lowe grounds into a force out, second baseman Thomas Saggese to shortstop Masyn Winn. Caminero’s out at second. Lowe’s safe at first. One out. Josh Lowe is hit by a pitch, and Brandon Lowe moves to second. And then Jake Mangum, he hits a sharp line drive for a double to left field! Brandon Lowe scores! Josh Lowe scores! What a hit, folks! Rays are up 7-1! That’s a two-run double for Jake Mangum. Hunter Feduccia lines out to left fielder Lars Nootbaar. Two outs. Carson Williams is called out on strikes. Three outs.
Top of the 5th
Jordan Walker lines out sharply to center fielder Jake Mangum. One out. Nathan Church singles on a line drive to left fielder Chandler Simpson! That’s Nathan Church’s first MLB hit! Lars Nootbaar takes one to left fielder Chandler Simpson, and that’s two outs. Iván Herrera hits into a force out, shortstop Carson Williams to second baseman Tristan Gray. Church is out at second. Three outs.
Bottom of the 5th
Bob Seymour strikes out swinging. One out. Tristan Gray singles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Jordan Walker. Chandler Simpson grounds into a force out, shortstop Masyn Winn to second baseman Thomas Saggese. Gray’s out at second. Simpson’s safe at first. Two outs. Chandler Simpson steals second base. Junior Caminero strikes out swinging. Three outs.
Top of the 6th
Willson Contreras hits a ground-rule double to left field. Nolan Gorman takes one to center fielder Jake Mangum. Willson Contreras moves to third. One out. Masyn Winn is hit by a pitch. Thomas Saggese hits into a force out, shortstop Carson Williams to second baseman Tristan Gray. Willson Contreras scores! Winn’s out at second. Saggese is safe at first. Two outs. Cardinals get a run back, now down 7-2. Thomas Saggese with an RBI groundout. Yohel Pozo pops out to second baseman Tristan Gray. Three outs.
Bottom of the 6th
Brandon Lowe strikes out swinging. One out. Josh Lowe grounds out to first baseman Willson Contreras. Two outs. It’s another pitching change, folks. Ryan Fernandez replaces Anthony Veneziano. Jake Mangum grounds out to first baseman Willson Contreras, over to pitcher Ryan Fernandez. Three outs.
Top of the 7th
Jordan Walker singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jake Mangum. And then Nathan Church, he hits a long one to center field! Get up baby, get up, get up! It’s a home run! Jordan Walker scores! Cardinals are creeping back, now down 7-4! That’s Nathan Church’s first big league homer! Lars Nootbaar grounds out to first baseman Bob Seymour, over to pitcher Adrian Houser. One out. It’s a pitching change, folks. Griffin Jax replaces Adrian Houser. Iván Herrera singles on a line drive to left field, deflected by shortstop Carson Williams. And then Willson Contreras, he hits a long one out to right-center field! Get up baby, get up, get up! A two-run shot! Iván Herrera scores! Cardinals are right back in this baby, now down by one run, 7-6! Contreras with his 19th dinger of the year. Nolan Gorman singles on a ground ball to right fielder Josh Lowe. Masyn Winn pops out to shortstop Carson Williams. Two outs. Thomas Saggese strikes out swinging. Three outs.
Bottom of the 7th
Hunter Feduccia draws a walk. Now it’s a pinch-runner, folks. Everson Pereira replaces Hunter Feduccia. And then Carson Williams, he hits a long one out to center field! Get up baby, get up, get up! Oh, yeah! Everson Pereira scores! The Rays extend their lead to 9-6. That’s Carson Williams’ first Major League homer! Bob Seymour strikes out swinging. One out. Tristan Gray takes one deep, but it’s caught sharply by center fielder Nathan Church. Two outs. Chandler Simpson grounds out to shortstop Masyn Winn, over to first baseman Willson Contreras. Three outs.
Top of the 8th
Well, a defensive change, folks. Nick Fortes replaces left fielder Chandler Simpson, and he’s now catching. Jake Mangum moves from center field to left field. Everson Pereira stays in the game in center field. Another pitching change, Bryan Baker replaces Griffin Jax. Yohel Pozo grounds out to pitcher Bryan Baker, over to first baseman Bob Seymour. One out. Jordan Walker strikes out swinging. Two outs. Nathan Church grounds out to shortstop Carson Williams, over to first… and that’s three outs!
Top of the 9th
Not much to say here but the Cardinals go out quietly into the night with their two best hitters, Herrera and Willson Contreras, striking out! Well go get ‘em again tomorrow, boys!
- Nathan Church got both his first big league hit and his first big league home run tonight!
- Miles Mikolas treated us again to Home Run Derby, folks! 2 dingers let loose, that’s 23 Mikolas endorsed home run balls in 2025.
- Lars Nootbaar 0-5
- Willson Contreras hit his 19th home run of the season…
- Saggese and Pozo each had a hit and an RBI
- Nathan Church and Contreras had similar nights with 2 RBI and 2 hits and a home run each
- Mikolas was absolutely swarmed giving up 10 hits in 2 2/3 IP + 4 Earned Runs
- the bullpen also could not handle the Rays offense tonight: Alcala gave up 3 hits in 1 inning; I didn’t know we had an Anthony Veneziano who struck out 4 batters in 3 IP while giving up 2 hits and 2 runs walking only 1 batter; Fernandez allowed a home run and a walk in 1 1/3 IP (Alcala also gave up a home run)
- It was not a boring game: 16 runs scored, 6 home runs, 8 different pitchers (each team threw 4) with Rays starter Houser giving up 4 runs and 6 hits
- Mikolas had the most effect on this game by a single player with a -.351 WPA! The Rays fringiest players Chandler Simpson and Tristan Gray had the most positive effect on the game with a .168 and .187 Win Probability Added while notching 5 total RBI between the two of them (Chandler Simpson with 3 RBI!)
An odd Saturday off because of some conflict with the NFL, booooooo. Return to Cardinals baseball Sunday, August 24th at 11:10 AM (strange weekend!). It will probably be Matthew Liberatore vs Ryan Pepiot who is a 4.56 FIP pitcher with an ERA just under 4.
