Photos Molina via Pinterest, Carlson via Chris Kohley-STL Post-Dispatch, Kim via KoreanTimes.com, O'Neill via Jeff Roberson-AP, Reyes via Jim Rassol-USA Today, Flaherty via Bill Greenblat -UPI
Well, another week down, and things are looking up. Kim with a good start, Carlson thrives in the 2 slots, O'Neill returns to the lineup, Reyes un-scored on, Flaherty two wins. Yadi comes through then gets hurt.
April 19-21 @ Washington
Game 1 Cards 12 - Nationals 5
Paul DeJong had his second multi-homer game, hitting a solo shot in the 2nd inning then topping that off with a Grand Slam in the 5th. Three other Cardinals also went yard, Tommy Edman, a two-run shot, and Paul Goldschmidt with a solo shot both in the third. Justin Williams had a solo Home Run in the 5th.
On the Mound, Jack Flaherty went 6 full innings for the 1st time allowing 2 runs on 6 hits striking out 5 and only 2 walks. Washington scored 2 in the 4th on a wild pitch and Sac fly. An Arenado error in the 6th lead to a three-run inning. Genesis Cabrera pitched a scoreless 7th. Daniel Ponce de Leon pitched the final two innings with no hits and striking out 1 to give the Cards the victory. Record for the week 1-0 overall 8-8
Game 2 Nationals 3 - Cardinals 2
Adam Wainwright turned in the best game to date with a 7 inning, 5 hit 1 run, 10 Strikeout 1 walk performance. His reward was a no-decision as the bullpen let him down in the 8th inning. The Nats scored first in the 6th on a Josh Bell HR. The Cards took the lead in the 7th on a Dylan Carlson Triple and an Austin Dean Sac fly. Genesis Cabrera started the 8th. After a walk, Hit by Pitch, and a single, the score was tied. After a stolen base and a ground out, an intentional walk filled the bases, and the Cardinal manager inserted the 5th infielder Edmundo Sosa. The next batter Castro, usually a ground ball hitter (hence the 5th IF), struck out. With 2 out Cabrera then walked Yan Gomes on 4 pitches to drive in the go-ahead run. The Cards wasted a one-out double from Yadier Molina in the 9th, giving the Nationals the 3-2 win. Record for the week 1-1 Overall 8-9
Game 3 Nationals 1 - Cardinals 0
With windy conditions, this game became a pitcher's duel. Carlos Martinez vs Max Scherzer. Martinez pitched a good game in 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 Ks. Scherzer was better 6 innings, 4 hits, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 Ks. Josh Bell scored on an Alex Avila Double for the game's only run with two outs in the second. Helsley and Reyes kept the Nationals at bay. While a trio of Washington relievers kept the Cardinal bats silenced all game. Record for the week 1-2 Overall 8-10
April 23-25 vs. Cincinnati
Game 1 Cardinals 5 - Reds 4
In his second start of the Season, Kwang-Hyun Kim went 5 2/3, surrendering 1 run on 5 hits and striking out 8 for a career-high and walked no one. For the 1st time this season, the Cardinal batting order had Goldschmidt moved from the 2 spots to 3 and Arenado dropping to 4th. Dylan Carlson, who has been producing lower in the lineup, was elevated to the 2 spots behind Tommy Edman. The Cardinals got to Reds starter Sonny Gray early, scoring 1 in the second on Yadier Molina's 5th Home Run of the season. They came back in the 3rd. Goldschmidt Doubled home Edman and Carlson. Arenado drove Goldy home with a Single, and Molina capped it off with a Double driving home Arenado. Molina seemed to be favoring his leg in the 5th after an at-bat. He was immediately checked out between innings and pulled from the game, and was listed as day-to-day. Castellanos had a solo Homer in the 6th for the Reds' 1st run. Things got a little tense in the 9th when Jordan Hicks walked the 1st batter, then after a ground out, Johnathan India hit a ball into Left Center. Carlson and Williams seemed to have a miscommunication that allowed the ball to get past both of them to the wall for a Triple. Hicks then walked the next batter. Alex Reyes came in and walked in a run. Another run scored on a wild pitch, Then Reyes struck out Castellanos and Suarez to earn his 4th save. Record for the week 2-2, Overall 9-10
Game 2 Cardinals 2 - Reds 0
In just his 4th start of the season, John Gant waited out a 2 hour and 20-minute rain delay. Gant the took the mound and pitched 6 innings, allowing only 3 hits, 0 runs, walking 2, and striking out 5. Cabrera and Gallegos kept Cincinnati off the basepaths the final 3 innings. This marked the 4th game out of the last 5 that a starter has gone 6 innings or more. St Louis, after back-to-back singles by Edman and Carlson and a fielder's choice that left runners at 1st and third, Nolan Arenado drove in Edman with a Single for the 1st Cardinal run. In the sixth, a two-out walk to O'Neill Andrew Knizner doubled off the wall in Left Center to score O'Neill for the second Cardinal run. Dylan Carlson also had 3 hits on the day. The Cardinals earned their second series win of the season and their second shutout season. Record of the week 3-2 overall 10-10.
Game 3 Cardinals 5 - Reds 2
Jack Flaherty went 7 innings. Tyler O'Neill pounded 2 solo Home Runs, Paul Goldschmidt drove in 2 runs, and Dylan Carlson added another to help pace the Birds on the Bat to their second sweep of the year.
Flaherty looked like he did back in the second half of 2019. He went 7 strong innings allowing only 3 hits and a solo Home Run, striking out 6 and walking none. Jordan Hicks had control issues for the second day in a row, and Alex Reyes made things interesting with 2 walks before nailing down his 5th save.
The Cardinals scored in the first after back-to-back singles by Tommy Edman and Dylan Carlson. Paul Goldschmidt reached on a fielder's choice, and Tommy Edman scored. In the second inning, Tyler O'Neill hit the first of his two solo shots to score 2-0. In the first 5 innings, Flaherty faced the minimum thanks to a Redbird double play in the 4th inning. In the 5th, Tyler O'Neill struck again, and Andrew Knizner followed with a single and was later driven home by a Dylan Carlson single, making the score 4-0. in the Reds 7th, Jesse Winkler led off with a Home Run to make the score 4-1. The Redbirds came back in the 8th inning When Paul Goldschmidt collected his second RBI of the game driving in Dylan Carlson, who had Doubled for one of his 3 hits on the day. In the 8th, after a walk, strikeout, and a fielder's choice with a trowing error by Tommy Edman (his 1st error of the year), allowing Kyle farmer to reach second. Tyler Naquin drove in what would be the Reds second and final run of the game. Reyes allowed a double and 2 walks to load the bases before getting Tucker Barnhart to ground out t 1st base to end the game. Cards win 5-2. Record this week 4-2 overall 11-10
HIGHLIGHTS and NOTES
*The movement of Carlson to the #2 spot in the order he is 7-12(.583) with 1 RS and 2RBIs
*The Home 2 Home Runs by O'Neill were his first since the season opener and the second two-home run game of his career.
*Twice this week, Cardinal hitters have had multi-homer games DeJong vs. Washington and O'Neill vs. Cincinnati.
*So far, the Cardinals are a perfect 5-0 when Tommy Edman scores.
*Alex Reyes has not been scored on yet this year in 10 games. 9 1/3 IP, 0-0 5 SV, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 10BB, 9SO.
* Jack Flaherty 2 games, 2 wins, 13 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 11 Ks 2.07 ERA
The starting pitching was much improved in 6 games 5 times starters got through the 6th inning. Jack Flaherty and Adam Wainwright each took a game through the 7th. KK looked very good in his second game. The move of Carlson to the 2 spots in the lineup seems to be a very positive thing, albeit a minimal sample size. O'Neill's power output in the finale of the Reds game is hopefully a sign of things to come.
To top it off, the Cardinals moved from the last place at the start of the week to second place on Sunday.
Next week
Monday, the Phillies come to St Louis for a 4 game set. Adam Wainwright will pitch for St Louis, and Zack Wheeler will pitch for Philadelphia. Then finish the week with 3 games at Pittsburgh. Monday is also the start of 17 straight games for the Cardinals.
Thanks for reading. See you next week.