(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
At the start of the first game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates had narrowed down the National League Central division lead to two games. But while the lead was dwindling, the good news was coming in faster for St. Louis.
Two of their best offensive players were off the disabled list, and cleared to play: Matt Adams and Matt Holliday.
With the regular season winding down and the playoff race heating up now more than ever, the St. Louis Cardinals have been beginning to get healthier. Randal Grichuk, Adams, and now Holliday are primed and ready to return.
From start to finish it was a close battle, but in the end the Cardinals emerged victorious, winning 3-1 for their 90th victory of the season.
The starters for the evening’s game were Carlos Martinez (13-7, 3.12 ERA) and Ariel Pena (1-0, 4.50).
Both pitchers threw lights out through the course of the first half of the game. In the top of the fourth inning, Jason Heyward led off with a walk. Later, with Heyward on third, Adams walked to put runners on the corners. After a strikeout by Yadier Molina, Kolten Wong stepped up to the plate and walked as well to load the bases.
With two outs and Jon Jay at the plate the Cardinals ended up stranding the bases loaded when Jay grounded out.
Despite that, Martinez continued to roll, striking out six batters through the first four innings alone.
Khris Davis put the Brewers on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a towering solo home run in center field.
Heyward led off the top of the sixth inning with a double deep to right field, bringing up Jhonny Peralta. Peralta, who was trying to get out of his slump, did just that hitting his 61st RBI of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
The Brewers threatened to retake the lead during the bottom of the sixth. But thanks to stellar fielding from Martinez, Molina, and Mark Reynolds, the Cardinals escaped a bases loaded jam unscathed.
Amidst the game the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 in game two of the doubleheader, meaning if the Cardinals won, the lead would stretch to three games.
After struggling for so many starts to pitch past the fifth inning, Martinez pitched to the eighth inning, capping off his night with a pick-off at first base. His final line for the night: 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 Ks.
Kevin Siegrist entered to pitch the ninth inning, and prevented the Brewers from walking off.
Matt Carpenter led off the 10th inning reaching on a single, bringing up Stephen Piscotty. Piscotty grounded into a fielder’s choice, bringing up Heyward with one on and one out. Heyward crushed a pitch deep to right field, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 lead in the 10th for his 12th home run of the season.
Trevor Rosenthal notched his 44th save during the victory, and Siegrist improved to 7-1.
On Wednesday, Jaime Garcia will get the start for St. Louis.
