Wednesday’s Game Report: Marlins 4, Cardinals 3
By Rob Rains
It was a painful loss for the Cardinals to the Marlins on Wednesday in Miami beginning even before the first pitch of the game.
Scheduled starter Kyle Gibson was scratched because of back tightness only minutes before the game was set to begin, forcing Matthew Liberatore into an emergency start.
Then in the eighth inning, Nolan Arenado was hit by a pitch on his right elbow and was forced to leave the game. The initial report was that he suffered a contusion but was undergoing further medical evaluation. X-rays were negative and his status was listed as day to day.
The insult to injury came in the ninth, when Alec Burleson dropped the ball just as he started to make a throw to the plate on a single to right, allowing the winning run to score and giving the Marlins their second consecutive walkoff win.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
At the plate: A home run from Nolan Gorman, his 16th of the season, and an RBI single by Brendan Donovan allowed the Cardinals to tie the game 2-2 in the second … In the seventh, Masyn Winn singled with one out and scored on a two-base error by Jake Burger on a ball hit down the line by Paul Goldschmidt … The Cardinals were just 1-of-10 with runners in scoring position.
On the mound: Liberatore gave up home runs to the first two batters he faced, in the span of his first five pitches, and then allowed a double and walk before retiring the next 10 hitters he faced … A leadoff walk off John King in the sixth led to the Marlins scoring the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly … In the ninth, Ryan Fernandez gave up a leadoff single and a ground ball advanced the runner to second before Otto Lopez delivered the game-winning hit.
Key stat: The last time the Cardinals allowed home runs to the first two batters of a game was on June 16, 2011, off Kyle Lohse, by the Washington Nationals.
Worth noting: The Cardinals will be allowed to add a 27th player to the roster for Thursday night’s game against the Giants in Birmingham, Ala. … Reliever Giovanny Gallegos was with the team in Miami and likely will be activated before that game … Gibson was reinstated from the bereavement list before the game with Ryan Loutos optioned to Memphis.
Looking ahead: Andre Pallante is the scheduled starter for the Cardinals game against the Giants at historic Rickwood Field, a tribute to the Negro Leagues. The Cardinals will wear uniforms honoring the St. Louis Stars.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
