Wow, talk about the wildest game three to start a season I can remember. This one had everything, I think quite literally- a Lynn 1st inning Houdini act, a thirty-five minute rain delay, Mookie Betts still being Mookie Betts, a whacky 7th, topping it off with an extra inning Cardinal winner.
That being said, let’s get in to it.
Let’s talk about the Lynn Houdini in the bottom of the 1st. Three singles is what greeted the ole Bronco to begin his evening. But after that, Lynn buckled down to punch out three consecutive (Smith, Muncy, T. Hernández) to escape the inning with no damage. Imagine how many Lance nut grabs happened that inning.
After that, Yamamoto and Mr. Bronco battled it out evenly until a thirty-five minute rain delay intervened before the top of the 5th got underway.
Libby was the first arm to appear out of the pen after the delay, taking over for Lynn in the 5th, ending Lynn’s night at- 4IP, 4H, 0ER, 1bb/ 5k.
After a quick first out of Lux, Lib would surrender back-to-back walks to Betts and Ohtani. Freeman and Smith would capitalize on the free passes, both collecting rbi singles to make it 2-0 Dodgers.
With two runners in scoring position and Muncy at the dish, Alec Burleson would bring out the cannon. A shallow fly ball would be hit to RF and Freeman would test the Burly mans arm, getting canned at home from an absolute dart to Herrera who delivered the tag.
That seemed to give a little jolt to Libby heading into his next inning of work. Liberatore opened his 6th with back-to-back k’s of Hernández and Outman, getting Lux to fly out for the third out.
Alright, here’s where things got weird. Insert Joe Kelly to open up the 7th.
Norm would open with a free pass, Nado would almost get killed by a fastball up and in, Carp would reach first on catchers interference, Herrera drove in Norm with a sac-fly, Burly hit an rbi single to RF, Crawford singled to RF, Carp scores to take the lead on a balk with VS2 batting, BDE strokes a 2-run double to open it up.
You still with me? Okay, good.
Let’s fast forward to the bottom of the 9th, Cardinals still with a two run advantage. Helsley would come in to relieve Kittredge, who worked a clean 8th in his Cardinal debut.
Helsley would get Lux to pop out to Arenado on the first pitch, but Mookie slammed a solo HR the next at bat to close it to a one run lead.
Helsley locked back in to fan Ohtani on an 89mph slider. Freeman, Smith, Muncy (rbi), then deposited three consecutive singles to tie things up at 5-5 before Helsley got Hernández looking to force extras.
The Cardinals would start the 10th with VS2 as the runner on second and he’d come in to score with the infield in on a Goldy rbi groundout to Betts.
Gio would make an appearance in consecutive games to try and shut the door and he did just that. Gio would open the inning with back-to-back k’s off Outman and Heyward on 82mph sliders. A Gavin Lux infield single to Crawford and a Mookie Betts walk later would bring Ohtani to the plate with a chance to end it.
Gio would win the battle, getting Ohtani to fly out to Crawford in shallow CF for the first Cardinals victory of the season, 6-5.
Steven Matz takes the ball tomorrow night, matching up against Gavin Stone. First pitch is schedule for 6:10pm c/t on ESPN.
Cheers, Stew
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