5 top performers from Cardinals series with Nationals

The St. Louis Cardinals took two of three games from the Washington Nationals in a weekend series filled with drama. 

With the trade deadline on Aug. 2, drama filled the air with rumors swirling and momentum swinging back and forth.

Much of the talk dealt with whether Nationals All-Star outfielder Juan Soto would be switching teams on the field by the end of the series. While there was no substance to the talk, it was certainly entertaining to ponder.

The Cardinals took Friday’s game 6-2 before absorbing a disappointing loss Saturday 7-6 and wrapping the set with a 5-0 victory.

Miles Mikolas earned his eighth win of the season on Friday after going seven innings, giving up six hits, one walk, and two earned runs while striking out four batters and inducing seven swings and misses. Genesis Cabrera looked good Friday, pitching a one-hit eighth inning. Giovanny Gallegos pitched an inning as well, giving up a hit and striking out one.

Dylan Carlson got the Cardinals on the board Friday, with a ground out that allowed Andrew Knizner to score. With a wild pitch from Anibal Sanchez, Tommy Edman scored. Paul Goldschmidt knocked a ground out, scoring Tyler O’Neill.

On Saturday, the Cardinals had major struggles with pitching. Before things fell apart, though, the game got off to such a great start with Nolan Arenado’s 19th home run of the season on a fly to left field off Paolo Espino.

Starter Dakota Hudson went 4.1 innings, giving up four hits, two walks and two earned runs, including a home run to Victor Robles. Hudson struck out one and induced eight swings and misses. Packy Naughton pitched 0.2 innings of relief, giving up three hits and two earned runs. He did strike out two.

Jordan Hicks got his second hold of the season, pitching one inning and giving up a run while striking out one.

Genesis Cabrera blew a save and earned his second loss of the season with a terrible inning of work. Pitching the seventh inning, Cabrera gave up a three-run home run to Josh Bell on a liner to center field, scoring Cesar Hernandez and Juan Soto.

Johan Oviedo pitched the eighth inning, striking out one. The rest of Saturday’s game and Sunday’s win will be discussed on the next pages.

The Cardinals are off on Monday, as they head back to St. Louis for a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs starting Tuesday. The New York Yankees visit Busch Stadium for a weekend set starting Friday.

This should be a fun week for the St. Louis Cardinals and fans. Here’s hoping for good deals and big wins.

Cardinals Winner: Andre Pallante

After a string of concerning starts from Andre Pallante, the youngster pitched an absolute gem on Sunday. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the Cardinals.

Pallante, now 4-4 on the season, pitched eight innings, giving up five hits and a walk. He struck out eight batters in the outing while inducing 12 swings and misses.  Pallante started the ninth inning. Fully prepared to go for a complete game shutout, Pallante was pulled for closer Ryan Helsley after giving up two hits.

Manager Oli Marmol was impressed with Pallante’s outing, saying he was “harder, sharper and tougher to hit.” This was great to see, and hopefully this continues for Pallante.

Helsley pitched the ninth and struck out two batters to help Pallante’s cause. Helsley’s velocity topped out at 102.5 MPH

Cardinals Winner: Paul DeJong

A trade Saturday sent infielder Edmundo Sosa to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for relief pitcher Jojo Romero. With Romero being sent to Triple-A Memphis, the Cardinals were able to call up Paul DeJong. DeJong was already traveling as part of the taxi squad after making huge strides with Memphis after his demotion earlier this summer.

DeJong continued to impress in his return to the big club.

In the third inning of Saturday’s game, in his first at-bat since rejoining the Cardinals, DeJong knocked his second home run of the season on a fly to left center field off Paolo Espino, scoring Lars Nootbaar. The home run traveled 400 feet at 107.1 MPH.

In the eighth inning, DeJong hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Paul Goldschmidt.

On Sunday, DeJong blasted his third home run of the season on a fly to center field off Jordan Weems. The home run traveled 421 feet at 106.2 MPH. As a reminder, this was the second game in a row with a home run for DeJong.

After all he went through to start the season, it’s great to see him play so well in his return to the Cardinals.

Cardinals Winner: Nolan Gorman

Being at the center of possible trade rumors as one of the Cardinals top prospects would normally slow a player down. Not so much the case for Nolan Gorman this weekend.

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On Friday, Gorman hit his 11th home run of the season on a fly to right field off Anibal Sanchez, scoring Nolan Arenado. Gorman’s homer traveled 374 feet at 100.1 MPH.

Cardinals Winner: Lars Nootbaar

It may have sounded like a boo on Friday at Nationals Park, but to the trained ear, it was a distinct roar of “Noot” from adoring Cardinals fans who flooded the visiting park this weekend.

Nootbaar hit his fifth home run of the season on a line drive to center off Anibal Sanchez. The blast provided the Cardinals their sixth run of the game. The homer traveled 401 feet at 105.4 MPH.

In the sixth inning of Saturday’s game, Nootbaar also hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Nolan Arenado.

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