Friday’s Game Report: Cardinals 3, White Sox 0
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals scored their customary three runs on Friday night, but that was more than enough support for Sonny Gray.
Gray worked seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits, as the Cardinals won the opener of the weekend series over the White Sox at Busch Stadium.
Gray lowered his ERA through his first five starts for the Cardinals to 0.89, allowing only three earned runs in 30 1/3 innings.
It was the 20th time in 32 games the Cardinals have scored three or fewer runs.
Here is how Friday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Nolan Arenado drove in all three runs, following a double and walk in the first inning with a two-run double, then doubling in the Cardinals final run in the fifth … Willson Contreras reached base in all four of his plate appearances with a double, two singles and also drawing a walk … Arenado and Contreras combined for five of the Cardinals six hits, with the rest of the lineup a combined 1-of-24 with the only hit an infield single by Michael Siani.
On the mound: Gray only allowed three hits, walked one and struck out six. The only inning when the White Sox put two runners on base was the third, when Gray gave up a two-out single and walk before getting out of the inning. After those runners reached Gray retired 13 of the final 14 hitters he faced … JoJo Romero worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Ryan Helsley, the NL reliever of the month for April, needed only eight pitches in the ninth to record his 11th save.
Key stat: Arenado had only driven in two runs in his previous 10 games, covering 41 plate appearances. This was his first three-RBI game since April 12, when he hit a three-run home run at Arizona.
Worth noting: Steven Matz was placed on the injured list on Friday because of a lower back strain. The Cardinals will need a starter to replace Matz on Tuesday night. One option could be promoting prospect Sem Robberse from Memphis, who raised his record to 4-0 on Thursday night. Robberse, 22, has a 1.77 ERA over six starts with 35 strikeouts and just seven walks in 35 innings. Robberse would be on turn to pitch that game and already is on the 40-man roster … Dylan Carlson singled and also walked in five plate appearances for Memphis on Friday night, playing the complete game in center field … Zack Thompson started and threw four scoreless innings … After getting rained out on Thursday night, Matt Carpenter made his first rehab start for Springfield on Friday night and had a double and a sacrifice fly … The best pitcher in the Cardinals’ system so far this year, Quinn Mathews, allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings for Palm Beach. He is now 3-0 with an 0.74 ERA for the season … The Cardinals rookie Complex League team will begin its season on Saturday.
Looking ahead: Lance Lynn will get the start on Saturday in the second game of the three-game series against the White Sox.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
