Persevering through injuries has been the theme of the St. Louis Cardinals throughout the 2015 season. Injuries to key players including Adam Wainwright, Matt Adams, and Matt Holliday have been obstacles in the Cardinals’ season.
Monday, they had another key player, suffer an injury.
Outfielder Randal Grichuk was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain. To fill the spot, the Cardinals called up outfielder Tommy Pham from the Memphis Redbirds.
The Cardinals began a three game series at Busch Stadium against a familiar foe, the San Francisco Giants. Both teams have faced off in the NLCS multiple times over the past few seasons, including last year, where it was the Giants emerging victorious, and eventually winning the World Series.
And on this night, the Cardinals were the team that emerged victorious, winning 2-1 in a thrilling match-up.
For Monday night, the starting pitchers on the mound were Michael Wacha (14-4, 2.93), and Chris Heston (11-7, 3.38).
It was a pitcher’s duel through the first four innings of the game, with both young pitchers keeping their opponents in check. The first score of the game did not occur until the bottom of the fourth inning. Yadier Molina, who entered with as many home runs as triples on the season (two), launched a solo home run to left field, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
As for Wacha, he had himself a solid outing as well, allowing only one run on the evening, which came in the top of the sixth inning. It began when Matt Duffy led off the inning with a single. Two outs later, Brandon Crawford hit a double to deep center field, which scored Duffy to make it a tie game, at 1-1.
But he had to settle for the no-decision, as Kevin Siegrist entered in the top of the eighth inning in relief. The final line of the evening for Wacha: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 Ks.
St. Louis headed into the bottom of the eighth still tied with the Giants. With one out, Stephen Piscotty hit a triple deep to center field. Brandon Moss was intentionally walked, bringing up Mark Reynolds with two on and one out.
And Reynolds grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Piscotty to make it 2-1. During the play, Moss helped preventing a double play by providing solid base-running.
Trevor Rosenthal came into the game in the top of the ninth, and notched his 37th save of the season, as the Cardinals won 2-1. Siegrist improved to 4-0, while Hunter Strickland dropped to 2-2. The Cardinals (76-42), gain a game on the Pirates, who earlier in the night lost 4-1 to the Diamondbacks.
Tomorrow night, Lance Lynn gets the start.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
