When the St. Louis Cardinals acquired Brandon Moss from Cleveland last year, many were quick to criticize, pointing out the veteran’s age, and desire for younger prospects. Many said that the tandem of Moss and Matt Adams would not work either.
On Wednesday night, both criticisms were debunked.
Moss crushed two home runs, while Adams and the returning Jhonny Peralta hit one each, as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 12-7.
One of the home runs hit by Moss was launched all the way to the top row at the Great American Ballpark.
“I guess,” he said when asked if he could hit balls harder. “I don’t care how far they go. I’m just happy I hit them. I wasn’t sure that second one was going to go out. I was happy when it did.”
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is more than aware of the 32-year old’s power, as hit 55 homers over two seasons with the Oakland Athletics and last year he led the Cardinals with 13 home runs.
“He’s dangerous,” Matheny said. “He’ll get the ball up in the air. The only question is whether it will stay fair and how far he hit it.”
While it was definitely a hitters game on Tuesday, the starting pitching for both teams struggled mightily.
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia gave up five runs and 13 hits (a new career high) in just a mere four 2/3 innings. Things weren’t much better for Reds’ starter Alfredo Simon (2-6). who walked a season-high five, allowing six runs and seven hits in five innings. Simon walked the first two batters of the evening, and it led to Adams’ three-run home run to give the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead.
“It seemed like Freddie never settled in,” Reds manager Bryan Price said after the game. “Even in the innings he was able to be more competitive. from a command standpoint he was extremely erratic. He’s working hard in the bullpen but between the lines he’s spraying a lot of pitches.”
As for the St. Louis bullpen, however, they were once again very effective. Seung-Hwan Oh pitched another perfect seventh inning, continuing his phenomenal season with the team.
For Peralta, the veteran continued his impressive return into the lineup, going 2-5. It was Peralta who broke open the four-run eighth inning with his three-run home run. It was his second straight game after missing the first 57 due to a thumb injury.
Adam Wainwright gets the start for St. Louis on Thursday.
