Yadi Beats the Crew 3-2, Literally
The Lizard King, aka Miles Mikolas, had a typical performance this afternoon, working into the 7th inning, fanning five batters along the way.
Like his last start vs PHI, Mikolas would run into 1st inning trouble, allowing a leadoff base hit to Thames. With Yelich batting, he would tap a ball back to Mikolas, who would fire it to Muñoz at 2B, forcing Thames out on a play Matheny would have to review. Mikolas then drilled Lorenzo Cain with a pitch, putting two runners on with one out. Mikolas, oddly enough, walked Shaw to load the bases for last night’s hero, Jesús Aguilar. Aguilar would get ahold of one, sending it Bader in deep RCF for a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0 Brewers. Brad Miller, making his Brewers debut, would bloop and RBI single into shallow LF, scoring Cain to make it 2-0.
Mikolas would pick up a huge first strikeout, getting Pérez in on the hands on a 94 mph fastball.
After that, Mikolas found his groove, like the "mowing guys down left and right" kind of groove.
Yadi (2-4, 2HR’s, 3RBI’s) would cut the Brewers lead in half leading off the top of the 2nd. Yadi would take the Chase Anderson pitch 403 feet to CF, the fifth Cardinal with at least 10HR on the year.
Yairo Muñoz would hit a one out single to LF in the inning, getting stranded on 2B after snagging his third stolen bag of the year.
Mikolas would turn in a 6 pitch bottom of the 2nd, giving up a leadoff single to Piña to RF. Anderson would attempt to sacrifice him over to 2B, bunting it back to Mikolas who would fire it quick to Muñoz at 2B. Mikolas then induced a huge 4-6-3 double-play on Eric Thames to end the inning.
The Cardinals offense would strikeout 13 times collectively tonight, a trend that’s becoming a routine. 3 of those would come in the top of the 3rd, all on fastballs from Anderson.
Carp and Pham would go down looking to begin the inning. Cafecíto and Swags would draw back-to-back, two out, walks. Anderson would pick up his 6th strikeout to end the inning, getting Molina swinging at the fastball.
Miles Mikolas would retire the side in order the next four consecutive innings, throwing quick, efficient, innings like the guy we know. The curveball was really dancing on Aguilar and Miller in the 4th inning, striking them out back-to-back on the hook.
Jeremy Jeffress would come in to relieve Anderson in the top of the 6th, giving up a leadoff single to Ozuna, beating the right-handed shift (3 infielders on the left-side). Yadi delivered the game winning blow next, sending a Jeffress ball out to RCF, scrapping the top of the wall, eventually bouncing over for a 2-run HR.
Yadi couldn’t believe it, Jeffress couldn’t believe it, Danny Mac couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe it. How did that ball sneak over? Yadi’s the goat.
The Cardinals bats wouldn’t produce another hit or run the rest of the game, also getting 2.1 scoreless from their bullpen.
Mikolas would be lifted for Jordan Hicks with two down in the 7th. After a Gyorko error that allowed Pérez to move up to 2B, Pérez would then swipe 3B. Hicks would win the only battle he would face, getting Piña to ground out to Gyorko.
Onto the 8th...
Lets break that down...
Austin Gomber and Sam Tuivailala would work the 8th inning. Gomber would face a pinch-hitter, Eric “Nerd Power” Sogard, giving up a single. Gomber turned the leadoff hit into a huge 4-3 double-play off the bat of Piña. Gomber then hit Yelich on the hand with a fastball, forcing Matheny to go with Tui. Ryan Braun would tap an infield single to greet Tui, eventually loading the bases after hitting Shaw on the foot with a slider. Tui would escape big trouble, getting the big man, Jesús Aguilar to ground out Muñoz to end the threat.
Bud Norris would close the door, earning his 14th save of the season. Norris would get Kratz (pinch-hitting) on a high heater, touching 95 mph. Hernan Pérez would reach base on an infield single, bringing in Piña. Norris made sure the game didn’t go further, inducing a game ending, 6-4-3 double-play for a 3-2 Cardinals winner.
Winning feels good, remember? Enjoy it while you can. Enjoy a good cold brew tonight, stay hydrated with alkaline water, get you vitamin c, and let’s split the series tomorrow afternoon.
Luke Weaver (3-6, 4.69) looks to bring the Cardinals to 40 victories, facing Jhoulys Chacín (6-2, 3.18).
First pitch 1:10 c/t.
Thanks for reading, cheers!
Game 75 is "in the books"
Comments