Tuesday’s Game Report: Cardinals 5, Padres 2
By Rob Rains
Playing small ball produced a win for the Cardinals on Tuesday night in San Diego.
Masyn Winn’s sacrifice fly in the third inning and another from Ivan Herrera in the eighth helped back a solid start from Miles Mikolas as the Cardinals got their second win in a row over the Padres.
Winn’s RBI came after a leadoff double by Victor Scott II, who went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Siani. Herrera’s fly ball came after Brendan Donovan was able to score on a slow roller hit by Nolan Arenado when Padres catcher Sal Campusano failed to touch home plate.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer, his second in the last two days, to drive in the Cardinals’ other two runs in the sixth inning, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 advantage … The Cardinals drew four walks into the game and two of those runners came around to score.
On the mound: Mikolas turned in the Cardinals’ second consecutive quality start, allowing the two runs on seven hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out four … Giovanny Gallegos was able to pitch around a walk and single in the seventh inning; Andrew Kittredge worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Ryan Helsley earned the save after allowing a leadoff single in the ninth.
Key stat: The Cardinals scored their five runs despite going 0-of-6 with runners in scoring position.
Worth noting: Lars Nootbaar was hitless in three at-bats playing in his first rehab game for Triple A Memphis at Indianapolis on Tuesday night. He did have an RBI and scored a run. Nootbaar is expected to be the DH on Wednesday … Because of a forecast calling for rain on Wednesday in Indianapolis, Sonny Gray’s scheduled start was moved. He will now pitch a simulated game against the Double A Cardinals in Springfield and will then make a rehab start next week in Memphis, delaying his return to the Cardinals.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals will complete their season-opening road trip with a day game on Wednesday in San Diego. Zack Thompson will make his second start.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
