photo: Jordan Hicks (Jeff Curry/Imagn)
The St. Louis Cardinals went 3-3 on the week, losing two of three in Milwaukee before taking two of three from the visiting Mets as Jordan Hicks settles into the closer’s spot. In our weekly history feature, the rough first MLB outing of a future Hall of Famer is remembered.
Game recaps
Monday, April 15 – Cardinals 7 at Brewers 10
The St. Louis Cardinals returned to Milwaukee to play a second series at Miller Park. Once again, Brewers hitters, specifically Christian Yelich, feasted on Cardinals pitching. Dakota Hudson made the start but was unable to finish the fourth inning. Hudson gave up six runs, on eight hits, including two long balls, in 3 2/3 innings. The right hander fanned three and walked three. Tyler Webb followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Mike Mayers started the sixth, and gave up a single, a walk, and a three run home run to Yelich before being removed with an injury. Dominic Leone pitched 2/3 of an inning with a walk. John Brebbia secured the final five outs, surrendering a solo home run to Yelich. Mayers was tagged with the loss.
The Cardinals got on the board first with two runs in the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong hit back to back solo home runs. The Redbirds added a run in the third on Yadier Molina’s RBI double.
In the sixth, Dexter Fowler led off with a single, then advanced to second and third on a ground out and two walks. A subsequent passed ball brought Fowler home. Goldschmidt and Marcell Ozuna each drove in a run on a single for three runs in the inning. Ozuna hit a solo home run in the ninth for the final Cardinals score.
Tyler O’Neill committed a throwing error on a play that led to an injury which landed him on the injured list.
Tuesday, April 16 – Cardinals 4 at Brewers 8
The Cardinals lost the second game of the series in Milwaukee on a second short stint by the Cardinals starter. Jack Flaherty’s evening ended even sooner than his teammate Dakota Hudson’s had the night before. Flaherty went 2 2/3 innings and surrendered five runs on nine hits. Two of the nine hits were home runs. The right hander struck out four and walked one. Giovanny Gallegos yielded two more runs in two innings pitched. In his MLB debut, Ryan Helsley followed with 2 1/3 innings in which he allowed home run to Christian Yelich. Only Tyler Webb came out unscathed, with a scoreless eighth inning.
The offense was held scoreless until the sixth inning when Marcell Ozuna blasted a two run home run. In the eighth, Yadier Molina plated a run on a single to center and Kolten Wong followed suit with an RBI single to center.
Wednesday, April 17 – Cardinals 6 at Brewers 3
The Cardinals avoided the sweep with a 6-3 victory over the Brewers. The Redbirds scoring began with a solo home run in the second inning from Marcell Ozuna. The long ball was his eighth of the season. In that same inning, Matt Wieters plated a run on a single to right.
In the third, Paul DeJong and Kolten Wong hit RBI singles to increase the lead to 4-0. Matt Carpenter’s solo home run in the fourth brought the score to 5-0. The Brewers scored in the bottom half of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-2.
Wieters drove in his second run of the game in the eighth on another single to right to make it 6-2. The Brewers answered with a run in the bottom frame, to bring the score to the 6-3 final.
Starter Michael Wacha was very good, tossing six innings and allowing only one run on one hit, a solo home run. Wacha earned his first win of the season. John Gant pitched a scoreless seventh. Andrew Miller gave up a run in the eighth and Jordan Hicks fired a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save.
Wieters and Dexter Fowler were both caught stealing, Wieters for the first time, Fowler for the second time. Wieters had a passed ball.
Thursday, April 17 – Off day
Friday, April 19 – Cardinals 4, Mets 5
The Mets came to St. Louis for a weekend series at Busch, and the Cardinals suffered a tough loss in the opener on Friday. Starter Adam Wainwright struggled, giving up four runs, three earned, on eight hits in three innings. Wainwright struck out three and walked three. The short outing taxed the bullpen, as it took six relievers to finish the game. Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless fourth. Ryan Helsley took the fifth and sixth and surrendered a solo home run to Pete Alonso. Dominic Leone began the seventh and gave up a leadoff single, then retired the next two batters. Tyler Webb got the last out of the inning. Webb returned for the eighth, allowed a single and a walk but recorded two out. John Brebbia retired the one batter he faced. John Gant delivered a scoreless ninth. Wainwright took the loss, his second of the season.
The Cardinals fell behind 4-0 but got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Jose Martinez. In the sixth, Lane Thomas, taking his first major league at bat, hit a two run home run to right center field. Thomas became the 10th Cardinal to homer in his first big league at bat.
An RBI single by Dexter Fowler added a run in the eighth.
Paul DeJong stole his second base of the season. DeJong and Martinez each made a fielding error.
Saturday, April 20 – Cardinals 10, Mets 2
The Redbirds bounced back with a drubbing of the Mets on Saturday afternoon. Starter Miles Mikolas was the first Cardinals pitcher this season to remain in the game beyond the seventh inning. Mikolas tossed eight innings, giving up two runs, neither of which came on the long ball, on four hits. The righty fanned four and walked two. Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless ninth. Mikolas earned his second win of the season.
The scoring began for the Cardinals in the second inning. Jose Martinez and Yadier Molina hit back to back singles and Kolten Wong was intentionally walked. With Mikolas at the plate, a passed ball plated Martinez. Mikolas singled up the middle to score Molina and Wong.
Paul DeJong led off the third with a double and he later scored on Martinez’ single. Marcell Ozuna drew a walk and later scored on Molina’s sac fly. Ozuna scored again in the fifth on a Molina single.
In the sixth, DeJong hit an RBI double and Martinez followed with a two-run double. The last Cardinal run scored in the eighth on Paul Goldschmidt’s solo home run.
Ozuna stole his third base of the season.
Sunday, April 21 – Cardinals 6, Mets 4
The Cardinals won the series by defeating the Mets in the rubber game on Sunday.
The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Pete Alonso. The Cardinals responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. Jose Martinez drew a leadoff walk and Yadier Molina followed with a single up the middle. Kolten Wong singled to plate Martinez. Starting pitcher Dakota Hudson reached on an error and Paul Goldschmidt drove in Molina and Wong on a single to center.
In the third, Marcell Ozuna led off with a walk, Martinez singled and Ozuna went first to third. Molina then hit a soft ground ball and Ozuna scored. Dexter Fowler followed with a double to right to bring in Martinez.
Goldschmidt singled again in the fourth and was drive in by an Ozuna double. The Cardinals lead was 6-2. The Mets added two runs to cut the lead to 6-4 but the Cardinals held it there.
Starter Dakota Hudson earned his first win of the season. Hudson pitched five innings and gave up three runs on five hits, including three home runs. The right hander fanned five and walked two. John Brebbia secured the first two outs of the sixth, then Andrew Miller entered to pitch to left handers. Miller walked his first batter but induced a pop out to his second to end the inning. Miller returned to start the seventh, struck out Pete Alonso, then hit Robinson Cano on the hand with a pitch. It was ruled that Cano swung so no base was allowed, but Cano had to leave the game and was replaced by Juan Lagares, who struck out for Cano. Mets Manager Mickey Callaway was ejected for arguing with the umpire over the Cano hit by pitch/swinging strike. Miller then served up a solo home run to Michael Conforto. Out went Miller and in came John Gant to retire the last hitter. Jordan Hicks pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out Lagares on a nasty 104 mph sinker to end the game.
Hudson made a fielding error, a missed catch at first base.
The Big Picture
The Cardinals ended the week in which they lost a series to the Brewers and won a series against the Mets for a record of 3-3.
Starting pitching was hit and miss. Jack Flaherty, Adam Wainwright, and Dakota Hudson had poor starts, though Hudson had a second start during the week in which he pitched better. Miles Mikolas and Michael Wacha pitched well in their starts. The bullpen was good for the most part, though Andrew Miller continues to struggle with his command.
Defense has been good and so has the baserunning. There was one ugly defensive game in the Mets series but it did not persist.
The sore spot for the Cardinals continues to be pitchers giving up the long ball.
Offense has been decent to very good, it just hasn’t been enough in some cases to overcome the runs allowed by the pitching staff.
The Cardinals remain at home this coming week and play a third series with the Brewers, and a second series with the Reds.
NL Central Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB |
| Milwaukee | 13 | 10 | 0.565 | 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 12 | 7 | 0.632 | |
| St. Louis | 12 | 9 | 0.571 | 1 |
| Chicago | 10 | 10 | 0.500 | 2.5 |
| Cincinnati | 8 | 13 | 0.381 | 5 |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
- 4/15 The Cardinals sent RHP Luke Gregerson on a rehab assignment to the Palm Beach Cardinals
- 4/15 The Cardinals optioned RHP Giovanny Gallegos to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/15 The Cardinals optioned SS Yairo Munoz to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/15 The Cardinals recalled 3B Drew Robinson from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/16 The Cardinals placed LF Tyler O’Neill on the 10 day injured list. Right elbow ulnar nerve subluxation.
- 4/16 The Cardinals placed RHP Mike Mayers on the 10 day injured list. Right shoulder lat strain.
- 4/16 The Cardinals sent RHP Luke Gregerson on a rehab assignment to the Springfield Cardinals.
- 4/16 The Cardinals optioned 3B Drew Robinson to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/16 The Cardinals recalled SS Yairo Munoz from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/16 The Cardinals recalled RHP Giovanny Gallegos from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/16 The Cardinals recalled RHP Ryan Helsley from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/17 The Cardinals placed CF Harrison Bader on the 10 day injured list retroactive to April 14, 2019. Right hamstring strain.
- 4/17 The Cardinals recalled CF Lane Thomas from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 4/19 The Cardinals sent RHP Luke Gregerson on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
Injury Report
- RHP Carlos Martinez (right shoulder) had an in injection of platelet-rich plasma in early spring training and began the season on the 10 day injured list. Martinez threw 40 pitches on flat ground on Friday may return to the roster sometime in May in a role TBD.
- RHP Luke Gregerson (right shoulder) continues on the 10 day injured list. Gregerson has been sent on rehab assignments to Palm Beach, Springfield, and now Memphis. Gregerson is expected to be activated in late April.
- LHP Brett Cecil (left arm fatigue) was placed on the 60 day injured list on March 28. After surgery to relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, Cecil has been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period.
- LF Justin Williams (fractured right hand) began the season on the 10 day injured list. In extended spring training, Williams has begun some baseball activities, including swinging a bat.
- CF Harrison Bader (right hamstring strain) was placed on the 10 day injured list retroactive to April 14. Bader is eligible to be activated as of Tuesday, April 23. No rehab assignment is planned for the center fielder.
- LF Tyler O’Neill (right ulnar nerve subluxation) was placed on the 10 day injured list on April 16. O’Neill is not expected to need a rehab assignment prior to returning to the roster.
- RHP Mike Mayers (right shoulder lat strain) was placed on the 10 day injured list on April 16. Mayers is unlikely to return to the roster before the All Star break.
Looking Ahead
Following the weekend series against the Mets, the homestand continues as the Brewers come to Busch Stadium for a three game series. Jack Flaherty is scheduled to make the Monday start, followed by Michael Wacha on Tuesday, and Adam Wainwright on Wednesday.
After an off day Thursday, the Reds travel in to St. Louis for a weekend series. No starters have been announced, but they will likely be Miles Mikolas, Dakota Hudson, and Flaherty.
To end the month of April, the Cardinals travel to Washington D.C. to play the Nationals in a four game set. The team then move to Wrigley Field for the first series of the season against Chicago. The Pirates then come to town for four games at Busch.
Following the Cubs series, the Redbirds return to St. Louis to play three against the visiting Phillies. The Pirates follow the Phillies to St. Louis to play a four game series beginning Thursday, May 9.
The Cardinals’ Regular Season schedule can be viewed here.
Blast from the Past
The Cardinals called up center fielder Lane Thomas this past week from the Memphis Redbirds in the wake of the placement of Harrison Bader on the injured list. Thomas had a memorable major league debut, hitting a two-run home run in his first major league at bat. This week’s Blast from the Past remembers another memorable major league debut.
On April 15, 1959, a 23 year old pitcher named Bob Gibson made his major league debut with the Cardinals, pitching two innings in relief of starter Larry Jackson. In that debut, Gibson gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Dodger third baseman Jim Baxes, in the seventh inning. Though it was not yet known at the time, Gibson would be the first Hall of Fame pitcher to give up a home run to the first batter he faced in the major leagues.
Gibson had signed with the Cardinals in 1957 for $3,000. There was no player draft in 1959, as the first player draft was not held until June 1965. Gibson spent his first two years in the minor leagues, mostly with the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate in his hometown of Omaha. Gibson started 1959 on the major league roster and made his debut in the fifth game of the season.
Gibson appeared in one more game, on April 18, and then was sent back to Omaha. He returned on July 30 and remained on the roster for the rest of the 1959 season. Gibson earned his first major league win on July 30.
Gibson would do the minor/major league shuffle again in 1960. He pitched 8 1/3 innings between April 23 and May 11, then was sent back down to the minor leagues. Gibson returned to the majors on June 21 and finished the season with the Cardinals.
Gibson was bounced back and forth between starting and relieving in the first half of the 1961 season, but he was on the roster for the entire season. He and other African American players suffered at the hands of manager Solly Hemus, who was known to be racist. Hemus was fired in mid-1961 and was replaced by Johnny Keane, who had managed Gibson in the minor leagues. Keane immediately switched Gibson to a full time starting role.
Gibson’s Hall of Fame career with the Cardinals spanned 17 years. In that time, he was a nine time All Star, two time Cy Young Award winner, two time World Series MVP, and earned nine Gold Gloves. Gibson retired from baseball in 1975 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981, his first year of eligibility.
Not bad for a pitcher whose first major league experience was rather ignominious.
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