3 ugly moments in St. Louis Cardinals series with Cubs

Sunday’s Game

The Cardinals looked great at the plate in Sunday’s game. And then, when it mattered, they didn’t.

Nolan Arenado singled to left field in the first inning, to score Brendan Donovan. In the second, Tommy Edman grounded into a force-out, scoring Dylan Carlson.

In the third inning, the Cardinals unleashed their bats. Brendan Donovan knocked his second home run of the season to right field. The blast traveled 359 feet at 101.8 mph. Paul Goldschmidt knocked his 18th homer of the year on a liner to left field. Goldy’s blast went 412 feet at 108.3 mph. Juan Yepez knocked his seventh homer of the year on a fly to left field. Yepez’s homer traveled 417 feet at a staggering 112.1 mph.

And that was it. While that’s been enough sometimes. But not Sunday.

Nick Wittgren pitched the third inning, giving up four hits and four earned runs. He did strike out one. Johan Oviedo made his first blown save of the season after 1.2 innings of work, he gave up three hits and one earned run. He did strike out one.

Packy Naughton and Junior Fernandez tried to hold things down through three innings.

Zack Thompson pitched 1.2 innings. He took care of the ninth inning and things went awry in the tenth. With Nelson Velazquez on board as the tenth inning runner to start the inning, Willson Contrerea singled to right field allowing the running run to score in Velazquez.

The Cardinals were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base. That wasn’t very reassuring. The team could have pulled off an energizing victory but instead is left wanting. It’s apparent the team needs a jolt of some sort.

Hopefully, they find that jolt against the Marlins.