Saturday’s Game Report: Twins 6, Cardinals 0
By Rob Rains
Sonny Gray has had one big problem pitching on the road this season, and it bit him and the Cardinals again on Saturday night in Minnesota.
Trevor Larnach hit a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot in a four-run third inning that carried the Twins to the win over the Cardinals.
The two homers were the 19th and 20th that Gray has allowed this season, the most he has ever surrendered in his career. Sixteen of those 20 have come in just 65 2/3 innings away from Busch Stadium.
Gray, who pitched for the Twins last season, saw the Cardinals’ offense struggle again when he was on the mound. They have scored a combined two runs in his last three starts.
The loss dropped the Cardinals back under .500 at 64-65 for the season.
Here is how Saturday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals failed to capitalize on two early scoring chances. A one-out single by Nolan Arenado and double by Lars Nootbaar put runners on second and third in the second, but Paul Goldschmidt and Pedro Pages struck out … In the third, Victor Scott II led off with a double and went to third on a bunt by Masyn Winn, but then got picked off base … Only two other runners reached second 8n the game, when Goldschmidt led off the fifth with a double, and when Winn advanced on a groundout after his single in the eighth … They were shut out for the fifth time this season.
On the mound: Gray struck out the side in his first inning and finished with seven strikeouts in his six innings … The Twins added a third home run off Kyle Leahy in the eighth inning.
Key stat: Gray’s ERA in 11 road starts this year is 5.62 and the 16 home runs allowed as a visitor are the most by an NL pitcher. In comparison Gray has a 2.72 ERA in 13 starts at Busch Stadium, where he has allowed only four homers in 76 innings.
Worth noting: Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch on his right hand in the fourth inning. He finished the inning, but came out for a pinch-hitter in the sixth and imaging revealed he suffered a broken finger. He likely will go on the IL on Sunday with Ivan Herrera rejoining the team from Memphis. It was the 12th time Contreras has been hit by a pitch this season … The Cardinals were 0-of-7 with a runner in scoring position.
Looking ahead: Erick Fedde will get the start on Sunday in the finale game of the three-game series.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
