St. Louis Cardinals: Red Birds, Bud Norris hold off Reds 5-3

In a game that featured yet another homer by veteran catcher Yadier Molina, Bud Norris and the St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen held off the Cincinnati Reds late.

The offense shined mid-game, and Luke Weaver dominated for the St. Louis Cardinals yet again. Yes, again. In what was a 5:40 P.M start for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ballpark, Yadier Molina again stared down Father Time, and took a pitch over the wall in right for a homer in the second.

Neither team would score until the top of the sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Cardinals compiled five hits, while scoring 4 times. To lead off the inning, Dexter Fowler drove over the wall in right for a solo shot. Later in the sixth, Marcell Ozuna added to the scoring as he drove in a run with a single to left to put the Cardinals up 3-0. Molina then drove in two with a single into left-center.

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Luke Weaver’s dominating pitching performance stifled the Reds through six innings. Weaver’s only blemish: a 2-run HR yielded to Devin Mesoraco in the seventh. “KO-ed” by the long ball, Weaver was out after failing to record an out in the seventh inning.

As for the pitching, the Cardinals’ bullpen was tasked with recording nine outs after Luke Weaver exited the game.

For the seventh, Matt Bowman finished with an inning of work. His line: 1 IP, 1 H, and 2 SO to cap a significantly reliable performance. The eighth inning featured southpaw Tyler Lyons for 0.2 innings. Lyon’s final line: 1 H, 1 SO, and 1 ER.

The last out of the eighth, was recorded in a very “unconventional” way. Mike Matheny countered with Dominic Leone with two outs in the inning. With Joey Votto on first, Leone picked off Votto to end the frame. Escaping potential trouble.

With a save opportunity in the ninth, Bud Norris was called on to slam the door. After a walk and a hit, Norris settled down late to shut up all Cincinnati Red’s comeback hopes. Norris recorded the save, by catching the final batter looking for the strikeout, & striking out the side. This capped off a fairly decent night in Ohio. Bud Norris’ final line: SV, 1 IP, 3 SO, 1 BB, & 1 H. The Cardinals went on to defeat the Reds by a final of 5-3.

Next: Questions about pitching

The St. Louis Cardinals take on the Reds again on Saturday, as they play game three. Miles Mikolas will take the mound for the Red Birds. First pitch, will be at 11:30 A.M at Great American Ballpark.