7 outstanding and 4 poor efforts from Cardinals in Braves series win

Outstanding efforts from the Cardinals

Nolan Arenado

Arenado returned to the club Saturday with renewed strength thanks to the birth of his daughter, Levi. He was four-for-four on the evening with a new “Dad Strength” on full display. He scored one run and two RBI.

Arenado hit his 27th home run of the season on a fly to left field, scoring Paul Goldschmidt. The homer traveled 399 feet at 104.4 mph.

On Sunday, he was one-for-four with an RBI. Arenado singled on a sharp liner to left field, scoring Brendan Donovan.

Andrew Knizner

Knizner began the weekend series pitching two-thirds of an inning. He gave up one hit in his debut pitching performance.

On Saturday, Knizner was one-for-two with a run, and two RBI scored. Knizner hit his second home run of the season on a fly to left-center field, scoring O’Neill. The home run traveled. 397 feet at 100.3 mph.

Lars Nootbaar

The legend of Nootbaar continues to grow as he sees more and more playing time. On Friday, he was 2-for-5. He was 0-for-5 on Saturday.

On Sunday, he was one-for-three with two runs and an RBI. He did walk once. Cheers of “Noooot” rang out at Busch Stadium as Nootbaar hit home run number nine of the year. The homer was a fly to left field traveling 355 feet at a cool 99.2 mph.

Brendan Donovan

Donovan has been one of the Cardinals’ greatest rookie stories this season. While he’s not been used as much, the Cardinals have given Donovan a shot recently and he has stepped up. On Friday, he was two-for-five with an RBI. Donovan singled in the ninth inning on a liner to second base, deflecting off the head of pitcher Jackson Stephens. The play allowed Tommy Edman to score.

Donovan was one-for-five Saturday with a run scored. On Sunday, he was one-for-three with two runs scored.

Adam Wainwright

Sunday was Wainwright’s 200th start at Busch Stadium and his 322nd start as a battery with Yadier Molina. Unfortunately, he got a no-decision on the effort.

Wainwright pitched 6.2 innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs. He struck out four batters while inducing five swings and misses.

Tommy Edman

Edman has struggled recently, but he seemed to turn a corner this weekend. On Friday, he was 0-for-three with two runs scored. He had another bad night at the plate Saturday, going 0-for-four with three strikeouts and three runners stranded.

On Sunday, he was one-for-three, scoring one run and an RBI. He knocked his tenth home run of the season on a liner to left-center field off A.J. Minter. The homer traveled 425 feet at 112.1 mph.

Ryan Helsley

On Saturday, Jojo Romero pitched an inning of relief of Jordan Montgomery, striking out two batters while inducing three swings and misses. Jordan Hicks looked sharp in his two innings of work. He gave up two hits but did strike out three batters while causing four swings and misses.

Helsley earned the win, now 8-1 on the season, pitching an inning of relief where he struck out two batters. Helsley’s max velocity reached 102.8 mph.

On Sunday, Helsley got his ninth win of the season, now 9-1 on the year, while giving up his fourth blown save. Helsley pitched 1.1 innings, giving up a hit and one earned run, including a home run to Dansby Swanson. He came back with a solid effort, striking out three batters and inducing five swings and misses. He did reach a max velocity of 101.5.

Giovanny Gallegos earned his 13th save, pitching one inning and giving up a hit.