photo: Yadier Molina (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals posted a losing 3-4 record, but strung two wins together to close the week. Yadier Molina twice produced all his team’s runs, with two home runs on Wednesday and again on Saturday. In our history feature, the classic 2011 NLDS Game 5 is remembered.
Game Recaps
Monday, June 18 – Cardinals 5 at Phillies 6 (10 innings)
The St. Louis Cardinals began a three-game series in Philadelphia on Monday. The opener was a one-run loss in extra innings. Starter Miles Mikolas had a bad first inning, giving up four runs out of the gate. Mikolas settled down after that and pitched four additional scoreless innings. The right hander allowed six hits, struck out three and walked one. Mike Mayers relieved and pitched two scoreless innings. Sam Tuivailala and Bud Norris each tossed a scoreless inning. Matt Bowman took the 10th and gave up two runs, took the walkoff loss and was charged with the blown save. He went on the disabled list the next day.
The Redbirds offense chipped away after falling behind 4-0 in the first inning. The Cardinals opened their scoring in the third on a Matt Carpenter solo home run. Yadier Molina added a solo home run in the seventh. In the ninth, a wild pitch on a Yairo Munoz strikeout brought Molina home again. Kolten Wong then singled to center, bringing Jack Flaherty home from third to tie the game. The Cardinals took the lead in the 10th on Tommy Pham’s home run. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Bowman lost the lead in the bottom of the inning. Molina went 3-for-4. Matt Carpenter was 2-for-5.
Jedd Gyorko made a fielding error.
Tuesday, June 19 – Cardinals 7 at Phillies 6
It was another one run game in Game 2 of the series, but the Cardinals were on the winning side. Tommy Pham put St. Louis on the board with a solo home run in the third. In the fifth, Kolten Wong added his own bases-empty home run. In the seventh inning, the Redbirds did their damage, putting four runs on the board to take the lead. Matt Carpenter and Jose Martinez each plated two on doubles. Finally, in the ninth, Carpenter’s solo home run sealed the deal for St. Louis. Carpenter was 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Tommy Pham was 2-for-5, and Yairo Munoz was 2-for-3.
Starter Luke Weaver pitched five innings, giving up four runs on six hits. The right hander struck out four and walked four. John Brebbia and Greg Holland tossed a scoreless sixth and seventh, respectively. Austin Gomber began the eighth and after putting two runners on base, was removed with two outs. Jordan Hicks gave up a double to score both inherited runners. Hicks then induced a ground out for the final out of the inning. Hicks was charged with the blown save, but returned for the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win.
Munoz was caught stealing for the fourth time and committed a fielding error.
Wednesday, June 20 – Cardinals 3 at Phillies 4
It was another one-run difference in the final game of the series, as a loss for the Cardinals returned. Michael Wacha made the start, and pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on six hits. The right hander struck out two and walked two. Wacha left in the fourth inning with what was later revealed to be a left oblique strain. Mike Mayers went the next 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Brett Cecil pitched a scoreless sixth. Sam Tuivailala surrendered one run in the seventh and was the losing pitcher. Greg Holland tossed a scoreless eighth.
The offense scored in the second inning on a solo home run by Yadier Molina. Molina homered again in the sixth, a two run shot. Molina was essentially the offense for the Cardinals, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Greg Garcia was 2-for-4.
Matt Carpenter made a throwing error.
Thursday, June 21 – Cardinals 3 at Brewers 11
The Cardinals went to Milwaukee for a four-game set against the first-place Brewers. The opener was a disaster. The Redbirds were pummeled 11-3 in a very ugly game. St. Louis’ defense committed four errors behind a struggling Carlos Martinez. Martinez pitched four innings and gave up seven runs, five earned, on eight hits. The right hander struck out three and walked two. Brett Cecil tossed a scoreless fifth. John Gant surrendered four unearned runs in his two innings. Position player Greg Garcia pitched a scoreless eighth.
The Cardinals put the first run on the board via a solo home run by Matt Carpenter in the first inning. The offense put up another run in the fifth on Yairo Munoz’ RBI double. Munoz drove in the third run in the ninth on a single to center field. Munoz went 3-for-4.
As noted, the defense was a disaster. Jedd Gyorko committed two errors, one fielding and another throwing. Carpenter made a fielding error and Jose Martinez made an error on a pickoff.
Friday, June 22 – Cardinals 1 at Brewers 2
The Cardinals played better on Friday but suffered the loss anyway in a game they should have won. The only St. Louis run scored on a Marcell Ozuna single in the third inning. There were only three Cardinals hits in the game, the Ozuna single, a single by Yadier Molina, and a double from Matt Carpenter.
Jack Flaherty pitched very well but got no support from his offense. Flaherty took a no-hitter into the seventh and went seven innings total, giving up a solo home run. The right hander struck out 13 and walked two. Jordan Hicks tossed a scoreless eighth. Bud Norris took the ninth, yielding the walk off home run to Jesus Aguilar, who had homered in the seventh to end Flaherty’s no-hit bid. Norris was the losing pitcher.
Molina had a passed ball.
Saturday, June 23 – Cardinals 3 at Brewers 2
After dropping the first two games of the series, the Cardinals bounced back and won Game 3 by a one-run margin. Dependable starter Miles Mikolas pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Mikolas struck out five and walked two. Jordan Hicks secured the final out of the seventh. Austin Gomber secured two outs in the eighth and Sam Tuivailala the third. Bud Norris pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 14th save.
Yadier Molina’s solo home run in the second inning put the Cardinals on the board. Molina added a two-run shot in the sixth. For the second game this week, Molina drove in all the Cardinals runs on a pair of long balls. Molina went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Yairo Munoz stole his third base of the season. Jedd Gyorko committed a throwing error.
Sunday, June 24 – Cardinals 8 at Brewers 2
The Cardinals earned the series split by defeating the Brewers on Sunday. The offense was more plentiful in the fourth and final game. Marcell Ozuna’s sac fly in the first inning put the Redbirds on the board. In the fourth, Matt Carpenter’s single plated two. Jose Martinez blasted a three-run home run to top off the big inning. In the fifth, Harrison Bader drove in a run on a single and Luke Weaver’s sac bunt scored Bader from third. Bader was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Ozuna was also 2-for-3. Dexter Fowler was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.
Weaver earned his fourth win, pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up two runs on five hits. The right hander struck out nine and walked two. Mike Mayers got the final out of the sixth. Greg Holland, Brett Cecil, and John Brebbia each pitched a scoreless inning.
Greg Garcia committed a throwing error.
Big Picture
The Cardinals ended the week 3-4, all on the road, losing 2 of 3 with the Phillies, and splitting the four-game series at Milwaukee. The Cardinals are 40-36 and remain in third place in the NL Central, 4.5 games back of the Brewers, and 2.5 games back of the Cubs.
Starting pitching has been inconsistent. Carlos Martinez had a bad start against the Brewers, and Michael Wacha was injured in his start against the Phillies. Miles Mikolas has been fine, Luke Weaver had one bad start and one good start this week. Jack Flaherty has been good.
The bullpen has actually been much better of late. Matt Bowman had a rough outing and was placed on the DL with blisters for the second time. Greg Holland returned from the DL and has pitched very well for the first time since he was signed in April. Brett Cecil has improved as well.
Offense has continued to be feast or famine. An eight-run performance on Sunday provides some hope for the future, but we have been down this road before. Marcell Ozuna has cooled off a bit, but Dexter Fowler had a good day at the plate on Sunday after weeks and weeks of struggles at the plate.
Defense and base running have taken a turn for the worse. Outs on the base paths for the Cardinals continue to be high. The defense, mostly in the infield, has been poor. A four-error game on Thursday was the worst we have seen in a while and the defense did not play a clean game all week. This must change. A return for Paul DeJong appears near and will be welcome.
The Cardinals continue with a difficult schedule, facing first-place teams in the Cleveland Indians, and the Atlanta Braves in the coming week at Busch Stadium.
| NL Central Standings | W | L | Pct | GB |
| Milwaukee | 45 | 32 | 0.584 | – |
| Chicago | 42 | 33 | 0.560 | 2 |
| St. Louis | 40 | 36 | 0.526 | 4.5 |
| Pittsburgh | 36 | 41 | 0.468 | 9 |
| Cincinnati | 32 | 45 | 0.416 | 13 |
Who’s Hot
Over the past seven games (does not contain recent Sunday game results):
- Yadier Molina has an OPS of 1.548. He has five HRs, two doubles, and eight RBI.
- Matt Carpenter has an OPS of 1.299. He has four HRs, three doubles, and six RBI.
- Jack Flaherty has an ERA of 0.75 and a WHIP of 0.67.
- Jordan Hicks has an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.82.
- John Brebbia has an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 1.50.
- Greg Holland has an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.00.
- Mike Mayers has an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.30.
- John Gant has an ERA of 0.00 and WHIP of 1.50.
- Brett Cecil has an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 1.50.
Who’s Not
Over the past seven games (does not contain recent Sunday games):
- Dexter Fowler has an OPS of .200.
- Harrison Bader has an OPS of .316.
- Jose Martinez has an OPS of .383.
- Marcell Ozuna has an OPS of .427.
- Carlos Martinez has an ERA of 11.25 and a WHIP and 2.50.
- Luke Weaver has an ERA of 7.20 and a WHIP of 2.00.
- Matt Bowman has an ERA of 27.00 and a WHIP of 4.50.
A Look at Cardinals Lineups
The lineups over the last seven games (does not contain recent Sunday game):
- The leadoff hitter has been Matt Carpenter.
- The number two hitter has been Tommy Pham for six games and Harrison Bader for one game.
- The number three hitter has been Martinez for six games, and Bader for one game.
- The cleanup hitter has been Marcell Ozuna.
- The fifth hitter has been Yadier Molina.
- The sixth hitter has been Jedd Gyorko for four games, and Dexter Fowler for three games.
- The seventh hitter has been Yairo Munoz for three games, Bader for two games, Greg Garcia for one game, and Luke Voit for one game.
- The eighth hitter has been Yairo Munoz for three games, Kolten Wong for three games, and Bader for one game.
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.
Transactions
- 6/18 The Cardinals activated 1B Jose Martinez from the paternity list.
- 6/18 The Cardinals optioned 1B Luke Voit to the Memphis Redbirds.
- 6/19 The Cardinals activated RHP Greg Holland from the 10 day disabled list.
- 6/19 The Cardinals placed RHP Matt Bowman on the 10 day disabled list. Blisters on right middle finger.
- 6/21 The Cardinals placed RHP Michael Wacha on the 10 day disabled list. Left oblique strain.
- 6/21 The Cardinals recalled RHP John Gant from the Memphis Redbirds.
Injury Report
- RHP Dominic Leone (right upper arm nerve irritation) remains on the 60 day DL. Leone is expected to be out for an indefinite period. Leone has engaged in strength training and other rehab exercises but has not been cleared for any baseball activity.
- RHP Alex Reyes (right lat strain) had surgery on June 6 to reattach a tendon in his right lat. Reyes will be out for the remainder of the season but is expected to make a full recovery.
- RHP Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) continues on the 60 day DL. Wainwright is not expected to begin a throwing program until July.
- RHP Luke Gregerson (right shoulder impingement, knee surgery for torn meniscus). Gregerson had surgery on his right knee for a torn meniscus on June 11 while on the DL for a shoulder ailment. The right handed pitcher may return to the roster in late July.
- SS Paul DeJong (fractured left hand) continues to recover from hand surgery. DeJong has resumed some baseball activities. He took on field batting practice on June 22. DeJong is scheduled to see a doctor on June 25.
- LHP Tyler Lyons (left elbow sprain) was placed on the 10 day DL retroactive to June 6. Lyons was expected to begin a throwing program the week of June 18.
- RHP Michael Wacha suffered a left oblique strain during his last start on June 20. Wacha was placed on the 10 day DL on June 21. No timetable for a return has been set.
- OF Tommy Pham was scratched from the lineup on June 24 due to illness, flu-like symptoms. His status is day to day.
Looking Ahead
The Cardinals return from their road trip in Philadelphia and Milwaukee to begin a six-game homestand. A three-game interleague series with the AL Central first-place Cleveland Indians begins on Monday. John Gant is scheduled to make the Monday start in place of the injured Michael Wacha. Carlos Martinez will start on Tuesday, followed by Jack Flaherty on Wednesday.
After an off day Thursday, the Cardinals take on the first-place NL East Atlanta Braves in a weekend series at Busch Stadium. No starters have been announced but will likely be Miles Mikolas, Luke Weaver, and John Gant (or other Wacha replacement).
The Cardinals leave St. Louis after the Braves series for the West Coast. The team travels to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks in a three-game set and then at San Francisco for a four-game series with the Giants beginning Thursday.
Following San Francisco, the Cardinals travel back to the Midwest to play the White Sox in a two-game interleague series in Chicago. After an off day that Thursday, the Cardinals return home for the final series before the All-Star break against the Reds on the weekend.
The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be found here.
Blast from the Past
The Cardinals played the Phillies this past week in a series in Citizens Bank Park. Each time the Cardinals and the Phillies meet in Philadelphia makes this writer reminisce about the 2011 National League Division Series when the Cardinals faced the Phillies there in Game 5. The Cardinals defeated the Phillies to move on to the NLCS with the Brewers. The Cardinals played both teams this past week, the Phillies first and then the Brewers, just as they did in the 2011 postseason.
2011 was a magical year for the Cardinals. St. Louis entered the month of August 2.5 games back of the Brewers in the NL Central. By the middle of the month, that margin had increased to four games. After a four-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers, the Cardinals had fallen to 10 games back of the Brewers on August 24. The Cardinals were also 10.5 games back of the Braves for the Wild Card. The outlook for a postseason berth looked grim.
A closed, team-only meeting following the Dodgers series appeared to make a difference. They took 3 of 4 from the Pirates and then swept the Brewers. By late September the Cardinals were back to 4.5 games behind the Brewers but time had run out to catch them and win the Division. If the Cardinals were to make the postseason, they would have to settle for the Wild Card.
The Braves were the Wild Card favorites entering September. Atlanta played badly, however and the slide continued when they came to St. Louis and were swept in a three-game series. St. Louis continued to win, and Atlanta did not. With nine games remaining in the regular season, the Cardinals had moved from 10.5 games back to 2.5 games back of the Braves. The lead dropped to one with three games left as Atlanta continued to spiral down.
On the last day of the regular season, the Cardinals and the Braves were tied for the Wild Card. The Cardinals played the Astros in Houston that day, while the Braves faced the Phillies. Behind a masterful performance by Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals beat the Astros 8-0. At the time the game ended, the Braves and the Phillies were still on the field.
That game went into extra innings as all of Cardinal Nation watched. In the top of the 13th inning, Hunter Pence put the Phillies in the lead, and in the bottom frame Freddie Freeman hit into a double play to end the game and the season for the Braves. The Cardinals had made it. Going from 10.5 games back to winning the Wild Card was the largest comeback in team history, as they went 23-9 over the final 32 games of the season.
The Cardinals met the Phillies in the NLDS. The Cardinals lost Game 1 and Game 3 but won Games 2 and 4. It came down to Game 5 in Citizens Bank Park. Cardinal Nation watched Chris Carpenter pitch arguably the best game of his career. Carpenter was facing his best friend, Roy Halladay, and it was a pitcher’s duel for the ages.
The Cardinals scored in the first on a triple by Rafael Furcal followed by a Skip Schumaker double. That would be their only run, but Carpenter made sure it would be enough as he held the Phillies scoreless for nine complete innings. Carpenter got Phillies slugger Ryan Howard to ground out for the last out, an at bat for Howard that essentially ended his career, as he suffered an Achilles injury coming out of the batter’s box and was never the same player again. In a bizarre scene, the Cardinals celebrated wildly with the injured Howard on the ground being tended to by trainers.
The Cardinals went on to defeat the Brewers in the NLCS and win the World Series in seven games against the Texas Rangers as Tony La Russa and Albert Pujols finished their last games in a Cardinals uniform. Back in August, such an outcome was likely thought possible by no one.
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