Sunday Finale Preview:
CINCINNATI, Ohio – The St. Louis Cardinals came into Sunday on the verge of a potential sweep by the Cincinnati Reds. After dropping game one 6-5 and game two 5-3, the Cardinals were looking to salvage a win in the series before making a trip north to Cleveland for a quick two game series with the Indians.
Johan Oviedo, still in search of his first career win, would make the start for St. Louis. Oviedo was on pace to earn that win, going five innings and allowing only one run and striking out five against the Cubs his last time out. Sadly for Johan, the Cardinals would blow a sizeable lead in the ninth, leaving Oviedo out of the decision.
Sonny Gray would be the opposing starter for the Reds. Gray struggled against the Brewers in his last start, pitching just 4.2 innings and allowed five runs off six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Gray hasn’t pitched like himself this season, as he has yet to win a game at home coming into Sunday. Gray would look to change that against the Cardinals, a team he’s scuffled with.
Inning-By-Inning Coverage:
The scoring would kick off in the top of the first. Tyler O’Neill with two outs launched a ball to center for a two-run home run, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead. The first inning bomb from O’Neill was his 17th of the year, and his first since July 17th vs. San Francisco.
https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1419346862767751171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1419346862767751171%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FCardinals2Fstatus2F1419346862767751171widget%3DTweet
The Red answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the first, courtesy of a three-run home run from Joey Votto. Things got quieter on both sides in the second and third innings, but the Cardinals didn’t keep it that way.
A game tying double by Tommy Edman got the action started for St. Louis in the top of the fourth. The red-hot Harrison Bader provided a sizeable lead with a three-run home run, making it now 6-3 St. Louis. Bader has been on fire as previously mentioned, but he’s particularly performed well in the Cincinnati series.
St. Louis Cardinals on Twitter: “WE REPEAT…There’s no one Bader than Harrison right now! pic.twitter.com/zWIA0Wf0qF / Twitter”
WE REPEAT…There’s no one Bader than Harrison right now! pic.twitter.com/zWIA0Wf0qF
The Birds on the Bat continued their magic in the fourth by hitting another homer, this time from rookie Dylan Carlson. The score was now 8-3. A wild pitch which scored Nolan Arenado would cap off a seven-run fourth inning. It was now 9-3 Cardinals, giving Oviedo enough cushion to get that elusive win.
St. Louis Cardinals on Twitter: “Teeing off on a Sunday afternoon! pic.twitter.com/sjmtSViHUl / Twitter”
Teeing off on a Sunday afternoon! pic.twitter.com/sjmtSViHUl
Oviedo ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the fifth. With a high pitch count and the bases loaded with one out, the Cardinals were forced to bring in Ryan Helsley, closing the book on Oviedo, who’d again fall just short of getting that first victory. Helsley worked around the bases loaded threat.
Cincinnati got a run back on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Tyler Stephenson singled in Mike Freeman with two outs to make it 9-4 Cardinals. A couple more runs for the Reds would come from a Max Schrock two out double, cutting the lead to just three at 9-6.
After Cardinal reliever Genesis Cabrera got ejected in the top of the eighth, Giovanny Gallegos entered the game. With the bases loaded and no one out, the Reds were looking to spoil St. Louis’ afternoon success. Gallegos was able to work around the huge jam.
St. Louis put up a late insurance run during the top of the ninth. Arenado just sneaked a ball over the right field wall for his 20th home run of the year, giving the Cardinals a 10-6 advantage.
St. Louis Cardinals on Twitter: “Home run number 2️⃣0️⃣ for Arenado! pic.twitter.com/oJkE0NpUKh / Twitter”
Home run number 2️⃣0️⃣ for Arenado! pic.twitter.com/oJkE0NpUKh
It was Alex Reyes time in the bottom of the ninth, looking to shut the door on a late comeback by the Reds. Reyes wouldn’t need to throw many pitches before he’d close out the game for St. Louis, sealing the deal and salvaging a 10-6 win in the series finale.
Reaction & Next Series Preview:
This was a good team victory for the Cardinals. Four home runs were hit by St. Louis, three of which came from each Cardinal outfielder. The defense also played well. The Reds had plenty of opportunities to add or take the lead in this game, but the Cardinal’s bullpen was able to limit the damage.
Here are some highlights and reactions from the Cardinal’s players as well as manager Mike Shildt:
Bally Sports Midwest on Twitter: “Harrison Bader on the #STLCards’ offensive success in their win over the Reds: “One through nine, we stuck to our plan, stayed confident in what we did. It was just a matter of time when we were all just kind of going to click together.”#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/4FHZPRdCJd / Twitter”
Harrison Bader on the #STLCards’ offensive success in their win over the Reds: “One through nine, we stuck to our plan, stayed confident in what we did. It was just a matter of time when we were all just kind of going to click together.”#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/4FHZPRdCJd
Bally Sports Midwest on Twitter: “Tyler O’Neill on the #STLCards’ seven-run fourth inning: “We’ve got a good lineup. We’re feeling good in there, it’s just a matter of time before we collectively hit as a unit. That’s nothing surprising to me, honestly.”#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/Q9uJJFtltF / Twitter”
Tyler O’Neill on the #STLCards’ seven-run fourth inning: “We’ve got a good lineup. We’re feeling good in there, it’s just a matter of time before we collectively hit as a unit. That’s nothing surprising to me, honestly.”#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/Q9uJJFtltF
Bally Sports Midwest on Twitter: “Johan Oviedo after his start against the Reds: “Bottom line, I have to stop throwing walks. That’s not an excuse, I’m tired of it and I’ve got to stop.”#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/sexuwqTF69 / Twitter”
Johan Oviedo after his start against the Reds: “Bottom line, I have to stop throwing walks. That’s not an excuse, I’m tired of it and I’ve got to stop.”#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/sexuwqTF69
Bally Sports Midwest on Twitter: “Shildt on the #STLCards’ request for a replay review being denied, which led to his ejection: “It got waved off, which has never happened since I’ve been doing replay. I took exception with it, said my piece. … At some point, you’ve got to stand up for your guys.”#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/fqxejRiYxl / Twitter”
Shildt on the #STLCards’ request for a replay review being denied, which led to his ejection: “It got waved off, which has never happened since I’ve been doing replay. I took exception with it, said my piece. … At some point, you’ve got to stand up for your guys.”#STLFLY pic.twitter.com/fqxejRiYxl
All in all, the Cards leave Cincinnati with a series finale victory and are headed to Cleveland for two games with the Indians. Coverage begins Tuesday @ 6:10 PM CT. Adam Wainwright will face Cal Quantrill in game one, followed by Kwang Hyun Kim vs. Zach Plesac on Wednesday.
