photo: Harrison Bader (Jim Cowsert/Imagn)
The St. Louis Cardinals went 4-3 for the week, with two games lost due to bullpen failures. After 100 contests, the team is 50-50, eight games out. Harrison Bader has been leading the improving offense.
Game Recaps
Monday, July 19 – Cardinals 8, Cubs 3
The St. Louis Cardinals blew past the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a four-game series at Busch Stadium. The Redbirds were in control throughout, behind good pitching from starter Jake Woodford, newly recalled from Triple-A to make the start. Woodford pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up one run on six hits and fanned six to earn his second win of the season. T.J. McFarland got the last out of the sixth. Andrew Miller surrendered one run in 2/3 innings and John Gant yielded one run in 2 1/3 innings.
The Cardinals offense put the first of eight runs on the board in the third inning. Harrison Bader led off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Woodford. Dylan Carlson singled to plate Bader.
St. Louis increased their lead to 5-0 with a four run fourth inning. Tyler O’Neill reached on an error. Yadier Molina singled and Tommy Edman drew a walk to load the bases. Paul DeJong reached on an error and O’Neill scored. Bader reached on a fielder’s choice and Molina scored. Dylan Carlson walked to plate Edman, and Paul Goldschmidt drove in DeJong on a single.
The Cubs scored one run in the fifth on a double play following three consecutive singles. The Cardinals widened the lead in the sixth with a two-run long ball by Carlson and a solo shot by Goldschmidt.
Former Cardinal Patrick Wisdom hit a solo home run in the seventh to cut the lead to 8-2. The Cubs added their third and last run in the eighth.
Carlson, Molina, and Bader were each 2-for-4. Carlson had four RBI while Molina and Bader both drove in two. Goldschmidt went 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Tuesday, July 20 – Cardinals 6, Cubs 7
The Cardinals lost a heartbreaker to the Cubs in the second game of the series on Tuesday night. The Cardinals took a five-run lead into the ninth inning, but the bullpen gave it up.
Starter Johan Oviedo pitched five innings and yielded one run on three hits, fanned five and walked one. The young right hander was looking for his first major league win, and almost had it, but the bullpen let him down.
Genesis Cabrera, Ryan Helsley, and Andrew Miller breezed through three scoreless innings, one each. In the ninth, Luis Garcia surrendered three runs without recording an out. He was relieved by Alex Reyes, who gave up three more. Giovanny Gallegos replaced Reyes with one out and finished the inning, but the Cubs held a 7-6 lead after being down 6-1. Reyes was charged with a blown save and the loss.
Initially, the Cubs scored in the second inning to take the lead. The Cardinals tied it up in the third. Harrison Bader doubled and crossed home on double by Dylan Carlson. St. Louis added to their lead in the fourth on a solo home run by Nolan Arenado, an RBI single by Bader and an RBI single by Oviedo.
In the sixth, solo home runs by Tommy Edman and Jose Rondon gave the Redbirds a 6-1 lead. This lasted until the bullpen meltdown in the ninth.
Bader was 2-for-4 with an RBI and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits. The team scored half of their runs on the long ball and had a total of 10 hits with every player in the starting lineup except Paul DeJong contributing.
On the base paths, Tyler O’Neill and Paul Goldschmidt each stole a base. In the field, DeJong made a throwing error.
Wednesday, July 21 – Cardinals 3, Cubs 2 (10 innings)
The Cardinals bounced back from the tough Tuesday loss with an extra inning, one run win over the Cubs in the third game of the set.
As in the previous game, the Cubs scored first with one run in the third inning. They held this 1-0 lead until the seventh, when the Cardinals scored two runs to take the lead. Paul DeJong singled and scored on a double by Harrison Bader. Bader later came home on a double by Dylan Carlson.
The Cubs came back to tie the game in the ninth but failed to score in the top of the 10th. In the home half of the 10th, with Paul Goldschmidt starting the inning on second base, Yadier Molina hit a walk off single to score Goldschmidt and the Cardinals celebrated.
Adam Wainwright got the start for the Redbirds. The right hander tossed seven innings, gave up one run on six hits, and fanned five. Genesis Cabrera relieved in the eighth and got the first two outs. Giovanny Gallegos finished the inning. The right hander returned for the ninth and gave up the tying run and was tagged with the blown save. John Gant got the final out of the ninth. T.J. McFarland tossed a scoreless 10th to earn the win, his first of the season.
On the base paths, Tyler O’Neill was caught stealing for the fourth time this season.
Thursday, July 22 – Cardinals 3, Cubs 2
The Cardinals took the series over the Cubs with a win in the fourth and final game. Again, the Cardinals won 3-2, but did so in regulation.
Kwang-Hyun Kim took the mound for the Cardinals and pitched six innings. The left hander yielded two runs on two hits, struck out seven and walked one. Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless seventh. T.J. McFarland and Alex Reyes each pitched a scoreless inning.
The Redbirds got on the board with a first inning solo home run by Dylan Carlson. The Cardinals increased the lead to 3-0 in the third on a two-run long ball by Nolan Arenado.
The Cubs came back to score two in the fourth inning to make it a one run lead. The bullpen held the lead through regulation.
Carlson was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. He was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.
On the base paths, Tommy Edman was caught stealing for the fourth time this season. In the field, Edmundo Sosa made a fielding error.
Friday, July 23 – Cardinals 5 at Reds 6
The Cardinals were edged by the Reds in the first of a three-game weekend series at Great American Ball Park. St. Louis’ bullpen again failed in the later innings to hold a lead.
The Cardinals got on the board with a first inning solo home run by Paul Goldschmidt. The Reds quickly took the lead away in the home half, scoring two runs on a double by Joey Votto.
The Cardinals just as quickly tied it up in the second inning on another home run, this one a solo shot by Harrison Bader.
The Reds regained the lead in the fourth on a home run by Kyle Farmer. The score remained 3-2 until the sixth inning when St. Louis scored three to take the lead. Bader led off the sixth with a double. Tommy Edman followed with a single, then stole second base. Andrew Knizner’s ground rule double scored Bader and Edman. Edmundo Sosa singled, and Knizner crossed home on a sac fly by Dylan Carlson.
In the seventh, the Reds scored two to tie and put up the winning run in the eighth on the Cardinals bullpen.
Goldschmidt was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bader was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Knizner was 2-for-4 with two driven in.
St. Louis starter Wade LeBlanc pitched four innings and gave up three runs on eight hits. The lefty fanned five and walked one. Andrew Miller and Justin Miller combined to pitch a scoreless fifth. Genesis Cabrera tossed a scoreless sixth. Ryan Helsley surrendered two runs in the seventh and was charged with a blown save. Giovanny Gallegos allowed the winning run in the eighth to take the loss, his third of the season.
On the base paths, Edman stole his 17th base of the season. In the field, Gallegos made a throwing error, and Carlson had a fielding miscue. Carlson also threw out Eugenio Suarez at home for an outfield assist.
Saturday, July 24 – Cardinals 3 at Reds 5
The Cardinals lost to the Reds in the second game of the series on Saturday. The Redbirds tried to play catch-up but were only partially successful.
Jake Woodford got the start and pitched five innings, gave up three runs on seven hits, struck out two and walked two. The right hander suffered his second loss of the season. T.J. McFarland surrendered two runs in two innings of relief. John Gant pitched a scoreless eighth.
The Cardinals once again got on the board first with one run in the second inning. Tyler O’Neill led off with a single and later scored on a single by Harrison Bader. The Reds took the lead in the home half of the second with two runs.
Cincinnati added to their lead with one run in the fifth and two more in the seventh. The Cardinals attempted to rally in the eighth and did score two runs to cut the lead to 5-3. The runs were driven in by Nolan Arenado on a ground rule double and by Paul DeJong on a single.
Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-5 and DeJong was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Sunday, July 25 – Cardinals 10 at Reds 6
The Cardinals took the final game of the road series 10-6 to avoid the sweep by the Reds. The offense hit four home runs, one by all three outfielders, plus Nolan Arenado. The game also featured two ejections, one of manager Mike Shildt, and the other of pitcher Genesis Cabrera after he was already leaving the game.
The Cardinals put two runs on the board in the first inning on a long ball by Tyler O’Neill. Joey Votto hit a three-run shot in the home half of the first to take a 3-2 lead.
The scored remained 3-2 until the fourth inning. The fourth was a big inning for the Cardinals, and it followed the inning in which Shildt was ejected. The inning began with a walk by Tyler O’Neill. Paul DeJong followed with a single and Tommy Edman then doubled to score O’Neill. Harrison Bader then stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run home run.
The fun continued with a double by Andrew Knizner and a two-run home run by Dylan Carlson. Nolan Arenado hit a triple that was almost a home run, then scored on a wild pitch. At the end of it all the Cardinals led 9-3.
The Reds began to cut into the lead with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh to make it 9-6. Though the Reds continued to make trouble for the Cardinals they did not score again. Arenado’s solo home run in the ninth inning was an insurance run.
Arenado was 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Bader was 3-for-4 with three RBI. O’Neill was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
The Big Picture
The Cardinals finished the week 4-3, winning three of four from the Cubs at Busch Stadium and winning one of three from the Reds at Great American Ballpark. The Cardinals had the chance going into the series to pass the Reds in the standings, but that chance was lost.
The Cardinals were prevented from sweeping the selling Cubs in the four-game series by a bullpen meltdown in Game 2. Pitching continues to be the team’s Achilles heel. Either starting pitching or the bullpen has stretches where it all falls apart. In the Cubs series it was the bullpen. In the Reds series it was both. The Reds have a powerful offense that Cardinals pitching at this juncture cannot contain. The lack of Miles Mikolas and Jack Flaherty hurt in this series. Wade LeBlanc, Jake Woodford, and Johan Oveido were all overmatched.
The offense has been steadily improving since the All-Star break, though there are still games where it is lacking. The last two games of the Cubs series were low scoring on both sides, but the Cardinals prevailed by scoring one more run than the Cubs. Top offensive performers over the last seven games are Harrison Bader (1.332 OPS), Nolan Arenado (1.126 OPS), Dylan Carlson (1.077 OPS), Paul Goldschmidt (.840 OPS), and Tommy Edman (.837 OPS). Tyler O’Neill (.680 OPS) and Paul DeJong (.451 OPS) have fallen off slightly over the last week. Yadier Molina was out with a neck issue over the weekend but his back up, Andrew Knizner, filled in admirably with an OPS of 1.407.
If the offense can keep up the pace and continue improving, the impending return of Mikolas and Flaherty in the next several weeks would be a boon for the team’s chances down the stretch. It is a long slog uphill against both the Brewers and the Reds, but it is not out of the realm of possibility. If the bullpen can cease giving up runs late, and the starting pitching can keep the offense in the game, maybe some headway can be made. It is a tall order to be sure. Given that the Cardinals are eight games out a week before the trade deadline, there isn’t a whole lot of incentive for the front office to spend big for reinforcements. The current team is likely going to have to sink or swim.
The Cardinals have two off days this week flanking a two-game series in Cleveland. The Cardinals return home to play the Twins over the weekend, the last place team in the AL Central. The Cardinals have a history of not faring well in interleague play, so it isn’t going to be a walk in the park by any means. A series win against the Twins and at least a split against Cleveland should be the target. More than that would be a gift.
NL Central Standings
At exactly 100 games into the 2021 season, the Cardinals are right where they began – at .500, but with an eight-game deficit in the division race.
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB |
| Milwaukee | 58 | 42 | 0.580 | |
| Cincinnati | 51 | 48 | 0.515 | 6.5 |
| St. Louis | 50 | 50 | 0.500 | 8 |
| Chicago | 49 | 51 | 0.490 | 9 |
| Pittsburgh | 38 | 61 | 0.384 | 19.5 |
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
- 7/19 The Cardinals recalled RHP Jake Woodford from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 7/19 The Cardinals optioned LF Lars Nootbaar to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 7/20 The Cardinals optioned RHP Junior Fernandez to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 7/20 The Cardinals recalled RHP Johan Oviedo from the Memphis Redbirds.
- 7/21 The Mets claimed RHP Roel Ramirez off waivers from St. Louis.
- 7/22 The Cardinals sent RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 7/24 The Cardinals sent RHP Miles Mikolas on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 7/25 The Cardinals acquired 40-man roster RHP T.J. Zeuch from the Toronto Blue Jays for cash and assigned him to Memphis.
Injury Report
- RHP Miles Mikolas (right forearm tightness), remains on the 60-day injured list. A second opinion by Dr. James Andrews revealed no structural damage to the UCL or a flexor tendon tear. Mikolas made his first rehab start with the Memphis Redbirds on Saturday night after three sessions facing live hitters at Busch Stadium. The right hander will make several more rehab outings before a return to the roster. The hope for Mikolas is a mid-August return date.
- RHP Jordan Hicks (right elbow inflammation) remains on the 60-day injured list and the team seems less optimistic that he can return to pitch sometime before the end of the season.
- 2B Max Moroff (left shoulder subluxation) is on the 60-day injured list after suffering a shoulder injury in a batting practice session. Moroff had surgery on the shoulder and is out for the rest of the season.
- RHP Jack Flaherty (left oblique strain) remains on the 60-day IL. Flaherty has begun throwing bullpen sessions and will make his first rehab start with Memphis on Tuesday, July 27. The right hander will be limited to 40-45 pitches to begin the rehab assignment. If all goes well, Flaherty could be on pace for a return date in the second half of August.
- RHP Dakota Hudson (Tommy John surgery) is expected to be out all the 2021 season. Hudson is tracking well toward an Opening Day 2022 return, though a late 2021 season return is not impossible, but unlikely.
- RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon (right shoulder inflammation) remains on the 10-day injured list. The right hander was sent to Memphis on a rehab assignment on Thursday and will throw in two to three rehab games with Memphis. The team would like Ponce de Leon to build up to about 50 pitches before he is activated.
- RHP Carlos Martinez (right thumb ligament sprain) had surgery on July 16 to repair his thumb ligament. The surgery makes it less likely the right hander will return to pitch this season. If that is the case, Martinez may have thrown his last pitch as a Cardinal. Martinez is on the final year of his contract, and though the team holds options for 2022 and 2023, they are not expected to pick them up.
- C Yadier Molina (neck stiffness) originally had a rest day for the first day of the Reds series, but during a warm-up for a potential pinch-hit appearance on Friday night Molina felt his neck tighten up. Adam Wainwright pinch hit instead. Molina was not in the lineup on Saturday or Sunday as well. No scans were performed as the team felt they were not needed. The catcher is day to day.
Looking Ahead
The Cardinals have an off day on Monday, July 26 following the Reds series, and will be in Cleveland to play two games with the Indians (soon to be the Guardians).
After a second travel day Thursday heading home, the team will play a weekend series with the Twins. Following an off day on Monday, August 2, the Cardinals continue the homestand with a three-game set with the Braves.
The homestand continues on Friday, August 6 with a weekend series with the Royals. The next road trip begins with a Monday, August 9 travel day to Pittsburgh to begin a three-day series with the Pirates on Tuesday, August 10.
The Cardinals regular season schedule can be found here.
Blast from the Past
Blast from the Past for the month of July is notable events month, as we describe one or more notable events from each day of the week the report covers. As everyone knows, July is trade month, so some of the notable events will be trades that are either notable for the players or notable for something unique about them.
July 19, 1993 –A fire breaks out in the press box of Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, delaying the game between the Cardinals and the Braves for one hour.
July 19, 2002 – The Cardinals traded Coco Crisp and Luis Garcia to the Cleveland Indians for Chuck Finley. Finley made 14 starts for the Cardinals with a record of 7-4 and an ERA of 3.80. Finley became a free agent at the end of the season and did not play major league baseball again. Crisp, who was the player to be named later in the trade, played for 15 seasons with four teams.
July 20, 1922 – Rogers Hornsby hit his 26th home run of the season, setting a modern National League record.
July 20, 2004 – Albert Pujols goes 5-for-5 with three home runs five RBI at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals beat the Cubs 11-8.
July 21, 1975 – Ted Simmons hit a home run in a game in San Diego, but he was ruled out because the Padres manager claimed the bat was illegal due to grooves cut into the bat. The bat was confiscated by the umpire and the Cardinals protested the game. The protest was moot as the Cardinals won 4-0.
July 21, 2017 – The Cardinals traded pitcher Marco Gonzales to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
July 22, 1913 – Cardinal Slim Sallee becomes the first pitcher to steal home in a game, against the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers).
July 22, 2009 – The Cardinals traded Chris Duncan to the Boston Red Sox for Julio Lugo.
July 23, 1969 – Cardinal pitcher Steve Carlton doubled in the third inning of the 1969 All-Star Game at RFK stadium. The double was the last time a pitcher got an extra base hit in an All-Star Game. Carlton was the starting and winning pitcher as the NL beat the AL 9-3.
July 24, 2009 – The Cardinals traded Brett Wallace, Clayton Mortenson, and Shane Peterson to the Oakland Athletics for Matt Holliday. Holliday played for the Cardinals that day against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and went 4-for-5 with an RBI. Holliday had to borrow a glove and shoes from teammates before he could play.
July 24, 1949 – Stan Musial hit for the cycle in a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. The Cardinals won 14-1.
July 25, 1962 –Musial passed Mel Ott as the National League’s all-time RBI leader in a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers at Sportsman’s Park. The hit that put him over the top was a two-run home run off Don Drysdale.
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