5 takeaway moments from Cardinals series with Blue Jays
There were many stunning moments in the Cardinals series with the Blue Jays in Toronto that ended in a split.
The St. Louis Cardinals split their two-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Cardinals lost Tuesday 10-3. The Cardinals won on Wednesday 6-1.
The big takeaway from the series is the exposure of the team’s big issue.
No, the Cardinals didn’t split this series due to a lack of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, who along with Austin Romine missed this series due to their vaccination status preventing them from entry into Canada.
Tuesday’s loss can be attributed to pitching. Bad, terrible, no good pitching. An issue that has hampered the club for the better part of at least two seasons, now. Pitching. And it must be addressed at the trade deadline if they hope to make a playoff push.
After months of hearing this was a crucial season for the Cardinals if the team does nothing and makes no playoff run, all of the winning-now-talk was for naught. Winning now for Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina in their final season? Getting Arenado and Goldschmidt their World Series win? Waiting to get a healthy Jack Flaherty back? There has been a lot of talk by the front office. The trade deadline is sure to show us what the front office’s true feelings are about doing what it takes to win now. It’s time to put up or hush up.
It didn’t help that the team was 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and nine runners were left on base.
Wednesday’s game was a nice turnaround for the team though as they seemed more relaxed. The team’s two veterans – Adam Wainwright and Albert Pujols – lead their young teammates in a huge way. Thank goodness they were there for their team and stepped up huge!
The Cardinals have Thursday off and will travel to Washington D.C., for a three game set with the Nationals.
Let’s take a look at some of the takeaways from this two-game set with the Blue Jays.
Timely hitting from some usual suspects
While the Cardinals struggled Tuesday, the team looked sharp on Wednesday getting some help from a team fired up to score some runs.
Dylan Carlson
On Tuesday, Dylan Carlson got the scoring started by hitting his sixth home run of the season on a fly to center field. The home run traveled 409 feet at 104 mph.
In the third inning, Carlson singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Lars Nootbaar.
On Wednesday, Carlson got the scoring started in the third inning as he knocked a double on a liner to left field, scoring Nolan Gorman.
Lars Nootbaar
In the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game, Nootbaar hit a double on a line drive to right field, scoring Brendan Donovan.
Nolan Gorman
In the fifth inning, Gorman took a blast opposite field with his short, compact swing.
https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1552452888638754816?s=20&t=JgV4B7C-aWKCW3iDi8nxdg
Gorman’s home run to left center field was his tenth homer of the season. The blast traveled 412 feet at a 105.5 mph.
Albert Pujols
Pujols has had a remarkable resurgence this season as he has put on the Birds on the Bat again. Getting back to where things began has been a boost to not only him, but to the team. And it is wonderful to see.
He is beloved around baseball as evidenced by this warm reception from the crowd at Rogers Centre.
In the third inning of Tuesday’s game, Pujols knocked a singled to right field to score Tommy Edman.
Tuesday’s game was Pujols 3,027th career game, passing Stan Musial & Eddie Murray for sixth all-time in MLB history. Amazing.
And then this happened on Wednesday:
https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1552455730053238784?s=20&t=JgV4B7C-aWKCW3iDi8nxdg
Pujols made some history Wednesday night as he hit knocked the 686th home run of his legendary career. The beautiful three-run shot came on a fly to left center field off Trevor Richards, scoring Andrew Knizner and Tyler O’Neill. The blast traveled 439 feet at 108 mph.
Pujols still has it!
Other milestones reached on Wendesday include his career 2,110th hit with the Cardinals. He is now tied with Rogers Hornsby for fourth most in team history.
Andre Pallante and Tuesday’s bullpen
Pallante pitched four innings, giving up seven hits and three runs, including a home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Pallante did strike out four batters and induced eight swings and misses.
Jordan Hicks earned the loss for the Cardinals and is now 2-5. He pitched 1.2 innings, giving up three hits, two walks and four runs. Hicks’ velocity maxed out at a staggering 102.4 mph.
Junior Fernandez pitched one inning, giving up four hits, two walks, and three earned runs including two home runs, a grand slam to George Springer and a solo-shot to Alejandro Kirk. T.J. McFarland pitched 1.1. clean innings. That was great to see from McFarland, for sure.
Here’s hoping the Cardinals are able to acquire some pitching at the deadline. While the Pallante-as-a-starter experiment was fun at first, it seems like he would be a better fit as a reliever.
Adam Wainwright and Wednesday’s bullpen
Wainwright stepped up a pitched a gem Wednesday night. It was a much needed outing from the team’s ace. Wainwright is now 7-8 after going seven innings, giving up five hits and one earned run. He struck out eight batters and induced 15 swings and misses.
Wainwright looked great mixing up his pitches, keeping Blue Jays batters on their toes.
Giovanny Gallegos pitched an inning, striking out one and inducing two swings and misses. Ryan Helsley pitched the final inning, striking out two and inducing five swings and misses. Helsley’s velocity topped out at 101 mph.
It was a great effort from the bullpen’s big arms.