Good, Bad, and Ugly from Cardinals series split with Giants

The Good

Miles Mikolas looked fantastic as he earned his second win of the season on Thursday. He threw 5.2 innings and gave up seven hits, three walks, and one earned run. He did strike out three. He induced five swings and misses. Andre Pallante got his first hold of the season, pitching 1.1 innings. He walked one. Nick Wittgren pitched one inning and gave up a hit. Kodi Whitley pitched one inning, giving up two hits and striking out two.

On Friday, Jordan Hicks pitched 4.1 innings, giving up three hits, two walks, and two runs while striking out five. He did induce four swings and misses. He topped out at 101.7 mph.

Ryan Helsey earned his first win of the season Friday going 1.2 innings and striking out four batters. He topped out at 101.9 mph. Helsley induced five swings and misses.

Giovanny Gallegos earned his sixth save of the season going one inning and giving up only a hit.

On Sunday, the San Francisco Giants honored Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols as they play in their final regular-season games at Oracle Park in San Fransico. Very nice!

The Bad

Getting runners in scoring position and failing to score them remained a devastating issue during this series. Many players went on uncharacteristic slumps. It was terrible to see.

On Thursday, Paul DeJong was 0-for-4 with one strikeout. But did help on defense, helping turn two double plays with Tommy Edman and Paul Goldschmidt.  Harrison Bader was 0-for-4 and grounded into a double play.

The team was 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Six runners were left on base.

On Friday, DeJong was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He did turn one double play with Edman and Goldschmidt. Tyler O’Neill was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Also on Friday, Adam Wainwright was placed on the Covid-IL. Waino tweeted fans to let them know he is OK.

Here’s hoping Waino gets plenty of rest and is able to return for his next start.

On Saturday, Arenado, Carlson, and Goldschmidt were runners left in scoring position with two outs. O’Neill was 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout. He also grounded into a double play. The team was 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position. The team left nine runners on base.  This is terribly frustrating to see as the game ended with the Giants winning 13-7.

On Sunday, Arenado was 0-for-5 with one strikeout. Edman was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. DeJong was 0-for-3 with one strikeout. The team was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They left nine runners on base.

The Ugly

Steven Matz had a terrible outing on Saturday getting his second loss of the season.

In the first inning, Matz gave up a grand slam homer to Wilmer Flores scoring Austin Slater, Mauricio Dubon, and Brandon Belt. In the second, Mauricio Dubon hit a homer to center field, scoring Mike Yastrzemski. Darin Ruf knocked a homer to left-center field, scoring Brandon Belt.

Matz pitched two innings, giving up five hits, three walks, and eight runs including three home runs. He did strike out three. This was Matz’s first game back with the club after being out on the bereavement list.

With Jake Woodford into pitch the fourth inning, Flores hit a sacrifice fly to Carlson, allowing Dubon to score. Nick Wittgren pitched the seventh inning. He gave up a double to left field, scoring Luis Gonzalez.

Woodford pitched 3.1 innings giving up two hits, one run, and a walk. He did strike out two. Packy Naughton pitched two-thirds of an inning, striking out one. Wittgren pitched one inning giving up two hits and one run. He also hit Joey Bart by pitch.

In the eighth inning, Kodi Whitley walked Flores with the bases loaded allowing Dubon to score. T.J. McFarland was brought in and hit Gonzalez by pitch allowing LaMonte Wade Jr., to score. Estrada then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Ruf to score.

Whitley pitched to four batters in the eighth inning, failing to get an out. He gave up four walks and three runs. McFarland pitched the final inning. He did hit Gonzalez with a pitch.

Dakota Hudson had a rough outing on Sunday. He pitched 4.2 innings, giving up five hits, four walks, and three runs.

Hudson was on the mound when he gave up a two-run homer to LaMonte Wade Jr., allowing Ruf to score. Yastrzemski hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Gonzalez.

T.J. McFarland pitched one-third of an inning, walking one.

Genesis Cabrera had a rough weekend as well. On Sunday, earned his first loss of the season, giving up on a hit. in the sixth inning, he gave up a home run to Yastrzemski on a fly to right field.

Pallante pitched one inning, giving up a hit and a walk. Giovanny Gallegos pitched the ninth inning, walking one and striking out one.