photo: Jedd Gyorko (Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports)
The surging St. Louis Cardinals have won nine consecutive series and claimed the wild card lead thanks in part to a 5-1 road trip west. Jedd Gyorko is swinging a hot bat. In our weekly history feature, the 2013 NLCS win over the Dodgers is remembered.
Game Recaps
Monday, August 20 – Cardinals 5 at Dodgers 3
The St. Louis Cardinals played a crucial series in Los Angeles this past week – crucial for playoff purposes – as the Dodgers are one of the teams competing with the Cardinals for a playoff spot. The opener was a home run for the Redbirds, both literally and figuratively. The Cardinals hit three of them, home runs that is. Jose Martinez’ solo shot off Alex Wood in the first inning put the Cardinals on the board. Two runs of the non-home run variety were scored in the fifth, one on a Martinez single, and the second on a walk by Patrick Wisdom.
The final two runs, the winning runs, came in the ninth, via solo home runs by Jedd Gyorko and Matt Carpenter off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. Carpenter went 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
Starter Austin Gomber pitched five innings, giving up two runs on five hits. Dakota Hudson allowed a run in his 1 2/3 innings. The remainder of the relief squad, consisting of Jordan Hicks, Brett Cecil, and Bud Norris, handled the final 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Cecil got the win, and Norris the save, his 25th.
Tuesday, August 21 – Cardinals 5 at Dodgers 2
The rolling Redbirds continued their march toward the playoffs by defeating the Dodgers in the second game of the series. The Dodgers got on the board first with a run in the second inning, but the Cardinals responded with three in the third. Jose Martinez singled to score Kolten Wong, before Yadier Molina hit a two-run home run.
The Cardinals added two more in the seventh on another two-run home run, by Marcell Ozuna. Ozuna was 2-for-4.
Daniel Poncedeleon went four innings in his start and gave up one run on five hits while fanning eighth and walking one. Luke Weaver tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief of Poncedeleon and surrendered the second Dodgers tally. Chasen Shreve, Carlos Martinez, and Bud Norris combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Wednesday, August 22 – Cardinals 3 at Dodgers 1
The Cardinals completed the road sweep against the Dodgers. The score was lower than the previous two games, due to a pitching duel between Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler for the first 5 ½ innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Flaherty blinked and gave up a solo home run to Joc Pederson.
But the Cardinals could not be defeated. In the eighth, Tyler O’Neill knocked a ball out of Dodger Stadium off reliever Scott Alexander to tie the game. In the ninth, closer Kenley Jansen made his second appearance in the series, and for the second time the Cardinals got to him. Paul DeJong hit a two run home run to give the Cardinals the 3-1 lead, a lead which they held thanks to Jordan Hicks, who struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth on successive 102 and 103 mph pitches.
Between Flaherty and Hicks, Brett Cecil and Dakota Hudson each pitched a scoreless inning. Flaherty struck out 10 Dodgers in his six-inning start.
Thursday, August 23 – Off day
Friday, August 24 – Cardinals 7 at Rockies 5
The Cardinals came off their sweep of the contending Dodgers to travel to Denver to meet the Rockies, another team with playoff aspirations. The opener went well for the Redbirds. St. Louis’ offense put four runs on the board in the second inning and three runs in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead. But, Coors Field in Denver can be a dangerous place for leads. In the bottom of the fifth, the Rockies put up five runs against Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas, who up to that point had been cruising. Chasen Shreve got the final out of the inning and the first out of the sixth. Carlos Martinez tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Jordan Hicks and Bud Norris pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.
The Cardinals’ seven runs began with a solo home run by Tyler O’Neil in the third inning. Jedd Gyorko scored on a passed ball. Mikolas clubbed his second home run as a Cardinal, a two-run shot. In the fifth, O’Neill doubled to plate Yadier Molina. Gyorko doubled to drive in Jose Martinez, and Kolten Wong’s sac fly scored O’Neill.
Four scoreless innings from the bullpen saved the win for the Cardinals.
Saturday, August 25 – Cardinals 1 at Rockies 9
The second game of the series was a tough loss for the Redbirds. John Gant was cruising for six innings, but in the bottom of the seventh, the Rockies took a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals battled to tie it up in the top of the eighth. Harrison Bader led off with a double, and Greg Garcia bunted for a hit that sent Bader to third. With Matt Carpenter at the plate, a wild pitch sent Bader racing home to tie the game.
Unfortunately, the wheels came off the bus for the Cardinals in the bottom of the eighth. The Rockies teed off, scoring eight runs to take a 9-1 lead. Dakota Hudson and Brett Cecil gave up three runs each, and Matt Mayers yielded two more. Only Luke Weaver got out of the eighth unscathed.
Sunday, August 26 – Cardinals 12 at Rockies 3
The Cardinals didn’t let the bullpen fiasco in the previous game get them down. Instead they came out swinging, and swinging, and swinging. Before the smoke cleared and it was all over, the Redbirds had put up 12 runs against the Rockies’ three.
It went like this in the first inning. Matt Carpenter led off with a double. With two outs, Tyler O’Neill hit a two-run home run. Paul DeJong and Jedd Gyorko singled. Harrison Bader doubled and DeJong scored. Yairo Munoz was intentionally walked. Starting pitcher Austin Gomber hit a high chopper to second to score Gyorko, and Bader also raced home all the way from second base on the infield single. The lineup turned over and Carpenter doubled again to score Munoz. All six runs were scored with two outs.
The Cardinals added four more in the third. Munoz plated Gyorko on a force out. Carpenter doubled for the third time and scored Munoz. Molina singled and Carpenter scored. Jose Martinez doubled to plate Molina. The Redbirds added two in the sixth on a Gyorko single and a Bader sac fly.
All of the runs were backed up by good pitching. Austin Gomber pitched six and gave up two runs, one unearned. Tyson Ross gave up the third Rockies run in his two innings pitched. Dominic Leone, newly activated from a long DL stint, pitched a scoreless ninth.
Big Picture
The Cardinals ended the week with a 5-1 record, having swept the Dodgers in L.A. and winning 2 of 3 from the Rockies in Denver. The Cardinals have moved to second place in the NL Central and now hold the first wild card spot, up a half game over the Brewers.
The offense has been rolling along. Matt Carpenter has been slumping, but picked things up in Sunday’s game, tying the Cardinals team record of four doubles. Jedd Gyorko has also been hot. Despite the five wins, most of the offense has either remained more or less average or has slumped. The team has put together timely hits when needed without one player carrying the team.
Harrison Bader continues to dazzle all of baseball with his defense, his speed and aggressiveness. Bader made two successful mad dashes to home plate to score runs, one on a wild pitch and the other on an infield single.
Pitching continues to do well, though Mikolas had a tough start against the Rockies, and three members of the bullpen had a meltdown in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game. Other than those anomalies, the pitching has been fine.
The Cardinals return home to play two series with the bottom two teams in the Division, the Pirates and the Reds. Cincinnati was the last team to win a series against St. Louis, in late July.
| NL Central | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Chicago | 76 | 53 | 0.589 | – – |
| St. Louis | 73 | 58 | 0.557 | 4 |
| Milwaukee | 73 | 59 | 0.553 | 4.5 |
| Pittsburgh | 64 | 67 | 0.489 | 13 |
| Cincinnati | 56 | 75 | 0.427 | 21 |
| WC Standings | W | L | GB | |
| St. Louis | 73 | 58 | 0.5 | |
| Milwaukee | 73 | 59 | – – | |
| Colorado | 71 | 59 | 1 | |
| Philadelphia | 70 | 60 | 2 | |
| Los Angeles | 70 | 61 | 2.5 |
Who’s Hot
Over the past six games (does not contain recent Sunday game results):
- Jedd Gyorko has an OPS of 1.209. He has one HR, three doubles, and two RBI.
- Marcell Ozuna has an OPS of 1.128. He has one HR and two RBI.
- Jack Flaherty has an ERA of 1.50 and a WHIP of 0.50.
- John Gant has an ERA of 2.38 and a WHIP of 1.41.
- Carlos Martinez has an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 1.00.
- Bud Norris has an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 1.00.
- Tyson Ross has an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.67.
Who’s Not
Over the past six games (does not contain recent Sunday game results):
- Yairo Munoz has an OPS of .286.
- Matt Adams has an OPS of .200 in five plate appearances.
- Paul DeJong has an OPS of .393.
- Miles Mikolas has an ERA of 7.71 and a WHIP of 2.57.
- Mike Mayers has an ERA of 18.00 and a WHIP of 4.00.
- Dakota Hudson has an ERA of 12.00 and a WHIP of 2.67.
- Brett Cecil has an ERA of 13.50 and a WHIP of 2.50.
A Look at Cardinals Lineups
The lineups over the last six games (does not contain recent Sunday game):
- The leadoff hitter has been Matt Carpenter for five games and Jose Martinez for one game.
- The number two hitter has been Yadier Molina for five games and Martinez for one game.
- The number three hitter has been Jose Martinez for three games, Tyler O’Neill for two games and Paul DeJong for one game.
- The cleanup hitter has been Marcell Ozuna for three games, O’Neill, Jedd Gyorko, and Matt Adams for one game each.
- The fifth hitter has been Paul DeJong for four games, O’Neill and Patrick Wisdom for one game each.
- The sixth hitter has been Gyorko for three games, Kolten Wong for two games, and Harrison Bader for one game.
- The seventh hitter has been Harrison Bader for four games, and Wong for two games.
- The eighth hitter has been Greg Garcia for two games, and Wong, Bader, Yairo Munoz, and Francisco Pena for one game each.
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
- 8/20 The Cardinals activated RHP John Brebbia from the 10 day disabled list and optioned him to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 8/21 The Cardinals activated RHP Carlos Martinez from the 10 day disabled list.
- 8/21 The Cardinals transferred RF Dexter Fowler from the 10 day disabled list to the 60 day disabled list. Left foot fracture.
- 8/21 The Cardinals optioned 3B Patrick Wisdom to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 8/21 The Cardinals claimed 1B Matt Adams off waivers from the Washington Nationals.
- 8/22 The Cardinals activated Matt Adams.
- 8/22 The Cardinals activated SS Yairo Munoz from the 10 day disabled list.
- 8/22 The Cardinals placed LF Marcell Ozuna on the 10 day disabled list. Right shoulder inflammation.
- 8/22 The Cardinals optioned RHP Daniel Poncedeleon to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 8/26 The Cardinals activated RHP Dominic Leone from the 60 day disabled list.
- 8/26 The Cardinals placed RHP Mike Mayers on the 10 day disabled list. Right shoulder inflammation.
- 8/26 The Cardinals released LHP Ryan Sherriff, who had been on Memphis’ disabled list.
Injury Report
- RHP Alex Reyes (right lat strain) had surgery on June 6 to reattach a tendon in his right lat. The right hander was transferred from the 10 day DL to the 60 day DL. Reyes is expected to be out for the remainder of the season.
- RHP Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) continues on the 60 day DL. Wainwright was sent on a rehab assignment to the minor leagues and is expected to return to the roster in early September.
- RHP Michael Wacha (left oblique strain) continues on the 10 day DL. Wacha was sent on a minor league rehab assignment on August 21. He should also return in early September.
- RHP Luke Gregerson (right shoulder impingement) was transferred from the 10 day DL to the 60 day DL on August 11.
- OF Dexter Fowler (fractured left foot) was transferred from the 10 day DL to the 60 day DL on August 21.
- LF Marcell Ozuna was placed on the 10 day DL on August 22 with right shoulder inflammation. No return date has been set but he will likely return in September.
- 2B Kolten Wong suffered a mild left hamstring strain running to first base on August 25. Wong is considered day to day.
- RHP Mike Mayers was placed on the 10 day DL on August 26 with right shoulder inflammation.
Looking Ahead
The Cardinals have an off day at home on Monday. Beginning Tuesday, the Cardinals will play a three game series against the Pirates. Jack Flaherty will get the Tuesday start, followed by Miles Mikolas on Wednesday, and John Gant on Thursday.
The Redbirds will take on the Reds in a weekend series in Busch Stadium. No pitching probables have been announced, but will likely be Austin Gomber on Friday, TBA on Saturday, and Flaherty on Sunday.
The Cardinals travel to Washington next week to play a three game series with the Nationals beginning Monday. With an off day Thursday, the Cardinals travel to Detroit for a weekend interleague set with the Tigers.
Following the Tigers series, the Cardinals return home to play the Pirates for three. The homestand continues with a four game series against the Dodgers.
The Cardinals will then travel to Atlanta for a three game set with the Braves.
The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be found here.
Blast from the Past
The Cardinals swept the Dodgers in a three game series in Los Angeles this past week. Continuing with the theme of past postseason series from the last several history segments, this week’s Blast from the Past reminisces about the 2013 National League Championship Series between the two teams.
The Cardinals won the NL Central in 2013 with a record of 97-65. They met the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Division Series and won the series 3-2. The team then moved on to the Championship Series to face the Dodgers.
The 2013 NLCS was the fourth postseason meeting between the two franchises. The first was in the 1985 NLCS which the Cardinals won 4-2. They met again in the 2014 NLDS and the Cardinals won that series also, 3-1. Then there was the infamous 2009 NLDS, which most Cardinals fans would like to forget. The Cardinals lost that series 3-0. We won’t discuss the missed catch by Matt Holliday in mixed company.
The first game of the 2013 NLCS was played in Busch Stadium, which the Cardinals won, 3-2. It lasted 13 innings – the longest NLCS Game 1 ever. Lance Lynn was the winning pitcher, and the game was highlighted by a superb outfield assist by Carlos Beltran, who threw out future Cardinal Mark Ellis at home plate.
The Cardinals won Game 2, also at home, 1-0. It was played the day after Joe Kelly hit Hanley Ramirez with a pitch and injured his ribs, a fact Dodgers fans seethed about for a very long time. It was Michael Wacha against Clayton Kershaw, with Wacha the ultimate victor. The only run scored on a sac fly by Jon Jay to score David Freese.
The series then moved to Los Angeles, where the Dodgers won Game 3, 3-0. Hanley Ramirez played with a fractured rib. Adam Wainwright was the losing pitcher.
The Cardinals were the winners in Game 4, 4-2. The first home run of the series was hit by Matt Holliday. Shane Robinson also hit a home run later in the game. Lance Lynn was once again the winning pitcher.
With the Cardinals up 3-1, Game 5 was a win or go home for the Dodgers. They won 6-4. Dodgers hit four home runs. Zach Greinke was the winning pitcher, and Dodger villain Joe Kelly was the loser.
In Game 6, Michael Wacha opposed Clayton Kershaw. The Cardinals absolutely embarrassed the Dodgers, 9-0. It was a game that causes Kershaw’s nightmares. He will likely never look at Matt Carpenter again without flashbacks. An 11-pitch battle in the third inning ended in a Carpenter double. The Redbirds put up four runs in that inning. The Cardinals added five more runs in the fifth, two of which were charged to Kershaw, who left the game with two runners on. One of the runners, David Freese was out in a rundown, but the other, Matt Adams, eventually scored. Wacha was the winning pitcher and was named the MVP of the NLCS.
The Cardinals went to the World Series to play the Red Sox, but that series will not be talked about.
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