photo: Ryan Helsley (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals went a disappointing 3-4 in Cincinnati and Cleveland as closer Ryan Helsley took two losses. At seven games under .500, the team is five games back in the division. Our history feature highlights hitting coach Turner Ward.
Game Recaps
Monday, May 22, 2023 – Cardinals 5 at Reds 6 (10 innings)
The St. Louis Cardinals lost a heartbreaker in a 10-inning one-run loss in Cincinnati on Monday. Starter Jordan Montgomery struggled through four innings, gave up four runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked three.
Andre Pallante surrendered one run in two innings of relief. Jordan Hicks and Giovanny Gallegos each threw a scoreless inning. Ryan Helsley relinquished one run the final 1 1/3 innings and took the loss, his third of the season.
The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. St. Louis came back in the second inning on a three-run home run by Paul DeJong.
The Reds regained the lead with two in the third. The Cardinals tied the game in the top of the fifth. Paul Goldschmidt walked and later scored on a double by Lars Nootbaar.
The Reds answered with a run in the home half of the fifth to make it 5-4. St. Louis tied it again in the eighth as Nolan Gorman doubled and scored on a double by DeJong.
The game went into extra innings and the Reds won in a walk off in the bottom of the 10th.
DeJong was 2-for-5 with four RBI.
On the base paths, Tommy Edman stole his seventh base of the season.
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 – Cardinal 8 at Reds 5
The Cardinals regrouped to beat the Reds in the second of the four-game series in Cincinnati. Starter Adam Wainwright pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up five runs on eight hits, struck out two and walked one to earn his second win of the season and his 197th career win.
Chris Stratton relieved Wainwright and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley each tossed a scoreless inning.
St. Louis took the lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run by Paul Goldschmidt. The Reds quickly tied it in the home half.
The Cardinals came back with two runs in the second. Paul DeJong singled and stole second base. Brendan Donovan singled, moving DeJong to third. Tommy Edman plated DeJong on a sac fly. Donovan stole second base and scored on a single by Alec Burleson.
The Cardinals added a run in the third on a second solo home run by Goldschmidt. The Reds pulled to within 4-3 in the bottom of the third.
The Redbirds put up three runs in the fourth to increase the lead to 7-3. DeJong was hit by a pitch. Brendan Donovan doubled. Edman tripled to bring in DeJong and Donovan. Edman scored on a single by Lars Nootbaar.
The Reds added single runs in the fifth and sixth to cut the lead to 7-5. The Cardinals made it 8-5 in the ninth when Edman doubled and scored on a single by Nootbaar.
Edman was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Nootbaar was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Goldschmidt was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Donovan was 2-for-3.
On the base paths, DeJong and Donovan each stole their third base of the season. Alec Burleson was caught stealing.
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 – Cardinals 3 at Reds 10
Cardinals pitching was pounded by the Reds in the third game of the series on Wednesday. Starter Steven Matz lost his sixth game of the season with no wins recorded. The left hander pitched four innings, gave up six runs on 11 hits, struck out two and walked two.
Chris Stratton surrendered two runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Genesis Cabrera relinquished two runs in the final 2 1/3 innings.
Cincinnati took control from the beginning with four runs in the first inning. The Reds added another run in the third.
The Cardinals scored their first run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Brendan Donovan. Cincinnati answered with one run in the home half.
St. Louis responded in the fifth on a solo home run by Lars Nootbaar. The Reds put up two runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings.
http;//thecardinalnation.com/player/lars-nootbaar/
The Cardinals posted their final run of the game in the ninth. Alec Burleson walked. Oscar Mercado doubled. Burleson scored on a single by Nootbaar.
Nootbaar was 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Oscar Mercado made a fielding error.
Thursday, May 25, 2023 – Cardinals 2 at Reds 1
The Cardinals managed to split the series with a narrow 2-1 win over the Reds on Thursday. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed five hits, and struck out five to earn his third win of the season.
Drew VerHagen relieved Mikolas and threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Giovanny Gallegos surrendered one run in the final 1 1/3 innings.
The game was knotted at 0-0 until the eighth inning when the Cardinals scored both runs. Lars Nootbaar singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Nolan Gorman doubled to plate Nootbaar. Gorman later came home on a wild pitch.
The Reds scored one run in the ninth to take away the shutout.
Andrew Knizner was 2-for-4.
On the base paths, Gorman stole his fourth base of the season. Knizner swiped his first bag. Juan Yepez was picked off and caught stealing.
Tommy Edman made a fielding error.
Friday, May 26, 2023 – Cardinals 3 at Guardians 4
The Cardinals lost another one run game, this time at the hands of the Guardians in Cleveland on Friday. Starter Matthew Liberatore pitched five innings, gave up four runs on five hits, struck out two and walked two. Liberatore, who took a scoreless game into the fifth, took the loss.
Chris Stratton relieved Liberatore and threw two scoreless innings. Andre Pallante tossed a clean eighth.
In the fifth, the Guardians put up four runs to take the lead.
The Cardinals began to chip away, first with one run in the sixth. Lars Nootbaar and Paul Goldschmidt hit back-to-back singles. Therunners advanced on a Nolan Gorman ground out. Nootbaar scored on a sac fly by Nolan Arenado.
St. Louis added a second run in the seventh. Brendan Donovan singled and later scored on a sac fly by Alec Burleson. The Cardinals scored their final run in the ninth on back-to-back doubles by Tommy Edman and Nootbaar, but couldn’t get the tying run home.
Nootbaar was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Goldschmidt and Donovan were both 2-for-4.
On the base paths, Nootbaar was caught stealing. In the field, Burleson had an outfield assist at second base.
Saturday, May 27, 2023 – Cardinals 2 at Guardians 1 (10 innings)
The Cardinals won a hard-fought contest in the second game of the series in Cleveland. Starter Jack Flaherty pitched seven innings, gave up one run on seven hits, struck out four and walked one.
http://thecardinalnation.com/player/ack-flaherty/
Andre Pallante relieved Flaherty and threw 2/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Helsley hurled 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Giovanny Gallegos tossed a scoreless 10th.
St. Louis went up 1-0 in the second inning on a solo home run by Brendan Donovan. The Guardians came back to the tie the game in the third.
The game remained tied through regulation. In the 10th, the placed runner on second base, Donovan, stole third base and scored on a ground out by Paul DeJong. Cleveland failed to answer in the bottom of the inning.
This game was basically won by Donovan. He scored both runs and had the only RBI. His stolen base in the 10th was his fourth of the season.
Oscar Mercado made a fielding error.
Sunday, May 28, 2023 – Cardinals 3 at Guardians 4
The Cardinals lost another heartbreaker in a walk off loss to the Guardians on Sunday. Starter Jordan Montgomery pitched five innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked one.
Jordan Hicks threw two scoreless innings of relief. Drew VerHagen started the eighth, loaded the bases with one out and was replaced Genesis Cabrera. Cabrera induced an inning ending double play. Ryan Helsley pitched the ninth and surrendered the winning runs. Helsley was charged with a blown save and took the loss, his second of the week.
Cleveland drew first blood with a run in the first inning. The Cardinal answered in the fifth with solo home runs by Alec Burleson, Andrew Knizner, and Paul Goldschmidt.
The Guardians cut the lead to 3-2 in the home half of the fifth. The score remained there until the bottom of the ninth. Cardinals closer Helsley walked two batters in a row with two outs. Helsley then gave up a Jose Ramirez two-run double to give Cleveland the walk off win.
Goldschmidt and Burleson were both 2-for-4 with an RBI. Nolan Arenado was 2-for-4.
The Big Picture
The Cardinals backslid into a losing week, going 3-4. They split the four-game series with the Reds and lost 2-for-3 to the Guardians. The Cardinals remain five games back of the Brewers. The Cardinals fell to fourth place in the Division, one game back of the Reds, which beat the Cubs on Sunday.
Run scoring was scarce over the week, especially in the Guardians series. The offense had a tough time with Cleveland’s pitching. They performed better against Sunday starter Hunter Gaddis than either Shane Bieber or Tanner Bibee.
The top offensive performers for the week by OPS are Brendan Donovan (1.184), Juan Yepez (1.171), Paul Goldschmidt (1.146), Andrew Knizner (1.144), and Lars Nootbaar (.858). At the bottom are Willson Contreras (.150) and Nolan Arenado (.324).
The starting pitching is slightly better but still underperforming. Miles Mikolas and Jack Flaherty were the top performers. Adam Wainwright and Jordan Montgomery have struggled with allowing runs. Steven Matz continues to be the worse performer by far and there have been reports that he will be relegated to the bullpen soon. Matthew Liberatore was called up in a temporary switch to a six-man rotation for the period during which there are no off days. Liberatore had a good first start but struggled in his most recent start in the fifth inning.
The bullpen has been okay, with the exception of the recent struggles of Ryan Helsley, which are concerning. Jordan Hicks, Andre Pallante, and Drew VerHagen have had the most recent success. The others have been hit and miss.
Then there is the defense. Tommy Edman has had some uncharacteristic struggles of late. The remainder of the infield is not an issue. The outfield, on the other hand, is a serious problem. Both Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill remain on the injured list, though the signs are that Carlson won’t be out much longer. The outlook appears to be much different for O’Neill, who has shown no signs of any significant recovery from his back issues. A scheduled rehab assignment was cancelled. It was reported that O’Neill has performed no baseball activities whatsoever. Whether he will return to activity and eventually to the active roster any time soon seems to be in serious doubt.
The outfield has one permanent member in Lars Nootbaar and the remaining positions have been a merry go round of Brendan Donovan, Oscar Mercado, Alec Burleson, Juan Yepez, and occasionally Tommy Edman. This is a recipe for problems. Neither Burleson nor Yepez are good defenders. Yepez is considerably below average, and Burleson is closer to average but just barely.
Without any continuity in the outfield, the defense there has been poor. Opposing hitters going to left field is a boon for all opposing teams and it is likely that scouting reports show that. Mercado was brought up to help, but so far that help has not materialized to any degree as he committed two errors this past week.
The return of Dylan Carlson cannot come soon enough for the outfield defense. It would be even better if O’Neill’s condition could improve quickly. In the meantime, hit balls to the outfield remain a grimacing experience for fans.
The Cardinals return home for two games with the Royals. Kansas City is a poor performing team but they tend to get up for playing the Cardinals so they should not be underestimated. Blessedly for them. the Cardinals have a two-day break after the Royals series before going on another road trip to Pittsburgh and Texas starting on Friday.
NL Central Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| Milwaukee | 28 | 25 | 0.528 | |
| Pittsburgh | 26 | 26 | 0.500 | 1.5 |
| Cincinnati | 24 | 29 | 0.453 | 4 |
| St. Louis | 24 | 31 | 0.436 | 5 |
| Chicago | 22 | 30 | 0.423 | 5.5 |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade and acquisition rumors.
Transactions
There are no transactions to report.
Injury Report
- RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Rodriguez is out for the season with shoulder surgery.
- LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton has begun a throwing program and will go on a rehab assignment when he is deemed ready. The hope is for a mid-June return.
- LF Tyler O’Neill (low back strain). The outfielder is doing no baseball activity at the moment after experiencing lingering back pain. The team is in decision mode as to the next steps. There is no timetable for O’Neill’s return.
- RHP Jake Woodford (right shoulder inflammation). Woodford experienced pain while pitching in relief on May 4. Woodford through a bullpen on May 26. The pitcher will either throw one more bullpen or go on a rehab assignment.
- CF Dylan Carlson was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 15 with a left ankle strain. Carlson has taken swings from the right side but has not yet taken swings from the left side. The outfielder is a few days away from resuming running. An early June return is now the goal.
Looking Ahead
The team ends the month of May with a two-game series with the Royals at Busch Stadium. Adam Wainwright is set to make the Monday start with Miles Mikolas following on Tuesday.
After a two-day hiatus, the Cardinals’ June begins with a six-game road trip. Beginning Friday, June 2, the Cardinals play a weekend series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. The team then travels to Texas for three with the Rangers.
After an off day on Thursday, June 8, the Cardinals begin a six-game homestand with the Reds and the Giants coming to Busch.
Another road trip begins on June 16 with three games each at the Mets and the Nationals.
Blast from the Past
This week’s Blast from the Past continues a series showcasing the major league coaching staff of the Cardinals. Each week we present a brief biography of one member of the coaching staff as well as a summary of the member’s playing career if applicable.
This 11th installment profiles Hitting Coach Turner Ward. The duties of the hitting coach are to instruct players with matters relating to hitting, including batting mechanics, plate discipline, and preparation.
Turner Max Ward was born on April 11, 1965, in Orlando FL. Ward’s father was a veterinarian. Ward is one of six children.
Ward attended Satsuma High School in Satsuma, Alabama. He went to Faulkner State College in Bay Minette, Alabama where he played baseball for two years. Ward went on to attend the University of South Alabama. Ward was an outfielder on the Jaguars and led the nation in outfield assists.
Ward was drafted by the Yankees in the 18th round in 1986. He played for four seasons in the minor leagues before his trade on March 19, 1989, to the Cleveland Indians.
Ward made his MLB debut with the Indians on September 10, 1990. He played in a total of 54 games in Cleveland before being traded in mid-season 1991 to the Toronto Blue Jays. Ward played in parts of two seasons in Toronto and then was placed on waivers and claimed by the Milwaukee Brewers on November 24, 1993.
The Brewers released Ward on November 1, 1996. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 22, 1997. Ward remained with the Pirates until he was released on August 11, 1999.
A week later, Ward signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He became a free agent and re-signed with the Diamondbacks in February 2000. He was released by Arizona at the end of the season.
Ward played his final MLB campaign with the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming a free agent in October 2001, after which he retired from baseball.
In his 12 total MLB seasons, Ward slashed .251/.332/.388 with 39 home runs and 219 RBI.
After five years working in the construction industry, Ward was approached to manage the Pirates’ Gulf Coast League team in 2006. He was promoted to manage the State Colleges Spike, then a Pirates affiliate, in 2007.
Ward left the Pirates to manage the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate, the Mobile Bay Bears in 2011. After two seasons with the Bears, he was promoted to the Assistant Hitting Coach position with the Diamondbacks. He became the Hitting Coach in 2014.
In 2016, Ward was hired as the Hitting Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. After two seasons in Los Angeles, he became the Hitting Coach of the Cincinnati Reds. Ward was not retained by the Reds after the 2019 season.
The Cardinals hired Ward as Assistant Hitting Coach on November 15, 2021. He was promoted to the Hitting Coach position on November 6, 2022, to succeed Jeff Albert.
Ward and his wife Donna, a breast cancer survivor, have three children, sons Tucker and Olin, and daughter Kendall. His son Tucker, a right-handed pitcher, was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 40th round of the 2015 draft and spent three seasons in the Diamondbacks system. He left professional baseball to become a player agent and CEO of Ward Performance Institute.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available – 2023 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation 2023 Prospect Guide is back for its sixth year. It includes 292 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or printed book copy today!
All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!
https://thecardinalnation.com/order-tcns-2023-cardinals-prospect-guide/
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Follow Marilyn Green on Twitter @Marilyncolor.
© 2023 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.