6 takeaways from Cardinals series sweep of Diamondbacks

The St. Louis Cardinals swept the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game set, looking like a team on a mission toward a fun fall in the playoffs.

The Cardinals pulled off a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks, winning Friday 5-1, Saturday 16-7, and Sunday 6-4.

With a record of 69-51, the Cardinals headed to Chicago for five games over the next four days against the Cubs. The Cardinals have a five-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. It’s easy to see that this series against the Cubs is very important for the Cardinals. While a series against the Cubs is always essential, this one takes on extra importance heading into the season’s final stretch.

What a fantastic team effort

The team picked each other up in each game and carried themselves to victory. The team battled and won despite leaving 15 runners on base and was 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position on Friday. The score may suggest a blowout on Saturday. The game was incredibly close without that total team effort in the ninth inning. The team was 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 13 runners left on base.

On Sunday, the team was 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 20 runners on the basepath. Given some rough pitching performances, the team battled at the plate and on the basepath to pull off quite the victory on Sunday for the sweep.

It was a great team effort all weekend. Here’s hoping that continues deep into the fall.

Now let’s take a look at some of the most talked about performances of the weekend.

Albert Pujols is amazing

Every time Albert Pujols goes to bat, history could be made. That was no exception on Saturday.

Pujols led off the second inning with his 12th home run of the season, the 691st of his career, on a fly to left-center field. The homer traveled 429 feet at 105.4 mph.

In the fourth inning, Pujols decided to do it again. Pujols knocked his 13th homer of the season, the 692nd of his legendary career, on a fly to left-center. The homer went 437 feet at 107.5 mph.

Both homers came off Madison Bumgarner. Just amazing.

Nolan Gorman’s hometown crowd booed his plate appearance Saturday evening, as it came at the hands of taking Pujols out of the game. Gorman pushed that away and singled on a fly to center field, scoring Paul Goldschmidt.

Nolan Arenado is a St. Louis Cardinal

Arenado had one of the most impressive plays Saturday. Alek Thomas grounded out to Arenado, who then threw a bullet to Paul Goldschmidt, who scooped the throw and secured the out.

Take a look at this play.

Arenado had a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning that allowed Tyler O’Neill to score.

On Sunday, Arenado singled on a liner to center field in the first inning, scoring Brendan Donovan. Gorman grounded into an unassisted double play, allowing Goldschmidt to score.

Arenado singled to right field in the seventh inning, allowing Nootbaar and Tommy Edman to score. In the eighth inning, Edman singled to center field, scoring Knizner.

The legend of Lars Nootbaar grows

In the fourth inning Saturday, Nootbaar singled on a grounder to right field, scoring Andrew Knizner.

In the sixth inning, Nootbaar tripled on a grounder to right field. A crazy series of events followed thanks to right fielder Daulton Varsho, allowing Tommy Edman and Andrew Knizner to score.

Nootbaar turned the moment into an inside-the-park homer run thanks to a fielding error by Varsho.

Nootbaar led off Sunday’s game with his seventh home run of the season on a fly to right-center field. The homer went 398 feet at 107 mph.

Paul DeJong had a colossal moment

Paul DeJong has been struggling at the plate lately. That might be an understatement. But he had a moment Saturday that will hopefully shake him out of that nasty streak.

With Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, and Tommy Edman on base, Paul DeJong blasted a grand slam home run to left center field. The homer traveled 397 feet at 101.2 mph.

Dakota Hudson and Jordan Hicks are not looking great

Dakota Hudson is struggling mightily this season. It’s to the point it is curious how much longer he will be in the starting rotation.

Hudson struggled through 4.1 innings Saturday, giving up five hits, three walks, and four earned runs. He did strike out four batters while inducing seven swings and misses.

Hudson is a promising arm that can induce groundball-outs. He, unfortunately, has struggled to do that this season. With the acquisitions of Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana and the expected return of Jack Flaherty and possibly Steven Matz at some point,  Hudson could be relegated to another role on the team.

Jordan Hicks threw to four batters in the eighth inning. And it was hard to watch. He gave up three hits, a walk, and three runs, including a home run to Jake McCarthy.

Hicks did have a good outing on Friday, pitching the ninth. He gave up two hits but struck out three batters, inducing six swings and misses. He reached a max velocity of 103.7 mph. The speeds he can achieve are incredible when he is pitching effectively.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem Hicks can be counted to hit the mound on successive days.

Miles Mikolas and the bullpen impress

Miles Mikolas is now 10-9 on the season after a pretty excellent performance Friday that saw him go eight innings, giving up two hits, one walk, one earned run, and four strikeouts on the night. He induced nine swings and misses.

Genesis Cabrera earned the win Saturday, now 4-2, having an effective two-thirds of an inning of work. Andre Pallante earned his seventh hold of the season, pitching two innings, giving up a walk, and striking out two batters.

Giovanny Gallegos pitched an inning, striking out one batter and inducing three swings and misses.

JoJo Romero made his Cardinals debut, pitching an inning, striking out two batters, and inducing four swings and misses.

Jose Quintana struggled in his start Sunday, going 2.2 innings, giving up seven hits, three walks, and four runs, two of which were earned. Chris Stratton calmed things down for Cardinals pitching as he pitched 2.2 innings, walking two and striking out one.

Jake Woodford is now 2-0 on the season after pitching 1.1 innings, giving up a hit. Genesis Cabrera earned his 13th hold of the season, pitching 1.1 innings.

Gallegos earned his 12th save, pitching an inning and striking out one.