Detroit Tigers continue ugly streak for St. Louis Cardinals

It wasn’t exactly a Motown Meltdown for the St. Louis Cardinals, but the team remains on a path of struggle.

The St. Louis Cardinals were swept by the Detroit Tigers in a two-game series. The Tigers won 8-2 on Tuesday and 6-2 on Wednesday. Let’s discuss the good, bad, and oh-so-ugly of this series.

The Good

Let’s be honest! There was not a lot of good going on for the Cardinals.

Lars Nootbaar was called up to replace Lane Thomas on the roster. He’s played in left field and right field thus far. In the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game, he hit a sac fly to left field, scoring Edmundo Sosa. On Wednesday, Nootbaar got his first major league hit as he tripled to center.

It’s pretty exciting. Take a look!

Tommy Edman singled to right to score him.

Also good? Nolan Arenado hit his 14th homer of the season. It was a bit of a golf shot to left field. Take a look here.

The Bad

Daniel Ponce de Leon left Tuesday’s contest early and was placed on the 10-day injured list today with right shoulder discomfort.

Hopefully he just needs some rest but it definitely feels like another hit for a team already struggling with major pieces injured. After his many struggles, you want to see Ponce do well and be healthy.

The Ugly

Getting swept by the Detroit Tigers is ugly all on its own. Poor pitching and inconsistent hitting makes it worse. On paper, the Cardinals should be able to beat the Tigers. But when bad pitches, walks and an inability to knock a few hits together and score some runs pile up it’s awful to see.

Johan Oviedo couldn’t make it past three innings on Tuesday. He pitched 3.2 innings, giving up six hits and six runs, two of which were earned, and also walked three and gave up a home run. He was able to strike out one. Oviedo probably should not be starting for the Cardinals right now. He consistently can not make it past three innings without struggling.

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Ponce de Leon gave up a hit and an earned run in his third of an inning pitched. Andrew Miller pitched one inning giving up one hit, a walk and an earned run. He also struck out one. Jake Woodford pitching one inning and only gave up a hit. Wade LeBlanc pitched one inning, give up a hit but striking out two. Junior Fernandez pitched an inning, giving up two hits and a. walk.

John Gant is another pitcher that probably should not be starting for the Cardinals. He pitched three innings, giving up two hits, four walks, a homer and three earned runs. He pitched to one in the fourth inning and was removed. Ryan Helsley pitched an inning and a third. He gave up a hit, a homer run, two walks, and struck out one. Genesis Cabrera pitched 1 and a third innings giving up two hits and one earned run. Giovanny Gallegos pitched a clean 1.2 innings, striking out one. Alex Reyes pitched the final two-thirds giving up a hit, a walk and one earned run, while striking out one.

This team desperately needs a jolt to it’s pitching staff. It needs a jolt to the line up. What that jolt is could range from any number of changes. The Cardinals just need something to get them on track to playing the way we know they are capable. We’re headed toward July, John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations, needs to do something now before it becomes too late.

The Cardinals come home for a four-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch. It will be good to play in front of the home crowd. Hopefully we can pull off a sweep. Hopefully!