This weekend was the best weekend of baseball we’ve all watched this season. What we all just witnessed never happens. And with the division and a spot for October on the line, it seemed insurmountable. But this team did it. And they did it the correct way, making sure the Cubs couldn’t win the division, sweeping them, beating them by ONE run in all four games.
Today didn’t let down yesterday’s high scoring affair, either. Let’s get into it:
Another very windy afternoon at Wrigley, with the wind blowing out towards CF with 17mph + winds.
Yu Darvish vs Miles Mikolas. Seems scary, right? Darvish kept up the insane strikeout pace he put up in his previous two starts (13 and 12), striking out 12 Cardinals batters thru his 8.1IP.
Darvish has the Cardinals number all day, until the 9th inning. Up until that point, they scattered 4 hits, getting their only run on an absolute BLAST from Pauly Deez (29th HR of the season). Deez sent this sucker onto Waveleand Ave., making it a 1-1 game to begin the top of the 3rd.
The Cubs jumped out to the early lead in the bottom of the 1st, as the Cardinals would have a “yikes” inning, in my opinion.
After Rizzo lined out to Goldy to begin the inning, the next three Cubs reached base. Castellanos would single to CF, Bryant would be HBP, Schwarber would single to LF. With Zobrist at the plate with the bases juiced, Mik would cross Yadi up, causing a passed ball and all three runners advanced bases, Castellanos scoring for the 1-0 lead.
Outside of DeJong’s HR, the Cards would hit three singles (Goldy, Edman, and Carp) off Darvish until the 9th rolled around, striking out 12 times. Darvish was disgusting, and nothing short of it. But the baseball gods were vibing with us all weekend.
Castellanos would leadoff the bottom of the 6th with a doub... I mean a HR. He hits HRs too. This would put the Cubs up 2-1. Mik went to work after that little blip, getting the next seven batters he’d face.
His night would come to an end just short of completing the 8th inning, lasting 7.2IP, leaving with Báez (pinch-running for Rizzo) and Happ on the corners for Tyler Webb. Webb would come in to get the final out vs Babe Ruth, who’d line out sharply to Dex in RF.
The Bench Mafia would do their thang in the top of the 9th, getting things started with a Cafecíto triple to CF, as Almora just missed it in CF- Martínez’s first xbh since late July.
Prince Sex showed us he was still alive today, coming in to pinch-run for Café. Dex would do his part, sending a sac-fly to Almora in CF, deep enough to score O’Neill to even the score 2-2.
Tommy Edman would collect his second hit next, turning on the ball for a single into RF. Goldy was due up next, looking for the final blow. He’d do it. Lining a double down the 3B line to score Edman to give the Cardinals their first lead of the night, 3-2.
Andrew Miller would come in for his 6th save of the season, flashing some 97mph fastballs and 85mph sliders. Maybe he still has something left in the tank, huh?
Miller would get Zobrist to pop out to Goldy and then strikeout Contreras on a slider for a quick two outs.
One out away.
But Jason Heyward would make us wait, blooping a single into LF for the rookie, Nico Hoerner. On the 18th pitch of the inning, Miller would get Hoerner to fly out to Arozarena in CF for the final out.
But this final out was different. This final out made it official.
The Cardinals are going to be playing October baseball for the first time since 2015.
ENJOY THIS FEELING
The Cardinals (89-67) end their final road trip of the season in Arizona, taking on the Dbacks (80-76).
Adam Wainwright (13-9, 3.83) gets the nod in game one, matching up against LHP, Alex Young (7-4, 3.27)*.
First pitch from Chase Field 8:40pm c/t.
Cheers, Stew
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