Former Cardinals hurler just did something only Shohei Ohtani can relate to

As a St. Louis Cardinal, Miles Mikolas was known for a lot of things–but definitely not his bat. 

After spending three years overseas, the right-hander inked a deal that landed him in the Redbird rotation. In his first year, Mikolas dazzled for a 2.83 ERA through 200.2 innings. His command was sharp, his Floridian essence gripped your attention, and “Uncle Miles” always seemed to find a way to get the job done. 

Unfortunately, regression waits for no man when it decides to strike. Consequently, the once-steady career Mikolas was mounting came to an abrupt halt. 

Over the next six seasons, Mikolas never matched his 2018 performance and became more of a vice to the Cardinals faithful than something to look forward to every fifth day. 

His tenure at Busch Stadium ended this past offseason when the Washington Nationals signed him to a one-year, $2.25 million deal. 

They expected innings, veteran leadership, and the same old hilarious jokes Mikolas always cracked in St. Louis. However, they never expected a demon in the batter’s box, too. 

Former Cardinals’ starter Miles Mikolas just did something only Shohei Ohtani can relate to 

In the Nationals’ latest contest against the rival Phillies, they entered extra innings. 

Since selling at the deadline, the Nats, who’ve been surprisingly good all season, have been in a tailspin. Heading into Wednesday’s game, they’d lost seven straight. 

It was clear Washington was over it–the losses, the noise, the decisions–put it all in the rearview mirror and keep on chugging, right? 

Catcher Keibert Ruiz thought so, as he slashed an RBI single to jump the baby-faced Nats to a 1-0 lead. Outside the Cardinals’ youthful ensemble, the Nationals are one of MLB’s most immature teams. 

Unfortunately, newly acquired Philly, Luiz Arraez, felt differently about the Nationals’ breaking their losing streak, and clubbed a lofty home run off the right-field foul pole to tie the game, one apiece. 

Arraez, known for his superb contact, has been amidst a power surge since joining the Phightins’. 

The game would remain this way, back and forth all night long until fans got bonus baseball. 

In the tenth, the two teams traded one run each to force an 11th inning, and then, magic unfolded. 

There was a distinct feeling in the air. Something no short of cinematic was ongoing in front of the Philadelphians’ eyes, and they couldn’t and shouldn’t have believed it. 

Mikolas, a pitcher, albeit one of the league's least effective this season (-0.7 bWAR, 5.67 ERA), stepped up to the plate. 

The Nationals had already taken a two-run lead, and with said lead, a runner on third, and nobody out, they deployed their last line of defense. 

Mikolas straddled the box, looked entirely uncomfortable, and then laid down a beautiful bunt. Before the Phillies could nab the runner coming home, they were down three runs, and Mikolas stood victorious at first base. 

Later in the inning, Mikolas would score a run, something no other pitcher has done this season other than Shohei Ohtani, adding yet another chapter to a story that started in 2012 in MLB. 

Throughout his career, Mikolas has been dogged for poor performance, praised for Cy-Young-esque pitching, and forced to go overseas to reinvent himself as a player. 

Love him or hate him, Mikolas is a modern baseball idiosyncracy. He’s wacky, quirky, and now, he’s got an RBI. 

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