If you’re a St. Louis Cardinals fan, you’re going to miss this no matter if you’re willing to admit it today or not. The final home game of the season wrapped up Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium and in a few weeks, many of us will long for the days when there was the potential for a Cardinals game to hang out at. Quinn Mathews gave the home fans a great start to the game and Herrera and Wetherholt provided some offensive support, too. However, baseball games are 9 innings and not 5 which has been
a problem for St. Louis the second half of this season. This time, though, there would be offensive heroes later in the game to save the day.
While Quinn Mathews was flashing the pearls on the mound, the St. Louis Cardinals bats didn’t wait until the late innings to score for a change. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Iván Herrera did something he hasn’t done much of since the All-Star break. He turned on a 93 mph four-seam fastball from Nationals starter Irvin and sent it flying 375 feet barely above the left field wall for a 1-0 St. Louis Cardinals lead.
The Washington Nationals would play some small ball in the top of the 2nd inning as Lile and Ford hit back-to-back one out singles giving Washington runners at first and third with just one out. Lile scored when Young hit a sacrifice fly to center tying the game at 1-1.
The Cardinals were given a gift that resulted in getting the lead back in the bottom of the 3rd inning when José Fermín led off with a double. After Nathan Church popped out, Fermín would advance to third on a wild pitch from Irvin with JJ Wetherholt at the plate. JJ would follow that with a solid single to right-center scoring Fermín and giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
If each of us had a nickel when a Cardinals game has gone south in the 5th or 6th inning this season, well we’d all have a lot of nickels and one would be added to that jar Sunday afternoon. After Quinn Mathews had a very efficient first 5 innings, the 6th would jump up and bite him. He gave up a leadoff single to House. JJ Abrams of the Nationals made that hurt when he turned on an 84 mph Mathews slider and blasted it 397 feet into the right field stands for a 3-2 Washington lead. It could have been worse if not for the rifle disguised as a throwing arm on Jordan Walker. Lile ripped a double into the right field corner that he tried to turn into a triple. Big mistake as Jordan Walker nailed him at third base for the second out of the inning.
The St. Louis Cardinals would not have another runner in scoring position after the 3rd inning until the bottom of the 7th inning when Leo Bernal drew a leadoff walk. Three batters later, he was advanced to second on a single from Fermín giving St. Louis runners at first and second with two outs. Unfortunately, Nathan Church flew out for the final out of the inning with no runs scored.
Manager Oli Marmol chose Luis Gastelum to handle the top of the 8th inning after Quinn Mathews completed 7 full innings for the Cardinals. Quinn gave up 7 hits, 3 earned runs while striking out 3 and walking 2. Gastelum had no problem taking care of the Nationals in the 8th shutting them down with a flyout and two strikeouts.
The Cardinals would pull even in the bottom of the 8th inning. It was Iván Herrera again who would catch up to a 97 mph four-seam fastball jolting it 439 feet over the left field fence tying the game 3-3.
After the Nationals walked Jordan Walker, Leo Bernal made them pay with as he took the 7th pitch he saw from Washington reliever Tolman and launched it 424 feet into the right field seats for a 5-3 Cardinals lead! Welcome to the emerging new St. Louis Cardinals core, Leo Bernal!
Riley O’Brien came in to try and lock down the home finale in the top of the 9th inning and he was assisted by defensive replacement Victor Scott II in left field who made a diving grab on a line drive off the bat of Crews for the first out. Riley then got Lile to pop out to short for the second out. Ruiz grounded out for the last out of the game in a no-drama (for once) 9th inning for St. Louis.
Just 6 games to go for the St. Louis Cardinals this season. Tuesday night, it’s the beginning of a 3-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Andre Pallante will get the start for the Cardinals while the Pirates will give the ball RHP Jared Jones. First pitch at PNC Park in Pittsburgh is scheduled for 5:40pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
