Sunday’s Game Report: Mariners 10, Cardinals 4
By Rob Rains
Miles Mikolas was hoping Sunday would be the day he could bounce back from what has been a frustrating couple of months.
Five batters into the game at Busch Stadium, it was apparent this wasn’t going to be the day for that to happen.
All five got hits. Mikolas didn’t record an out until his 23rd pitch of the game and by the time he had faced 12 batters, Seattle had a 7-0 lead and Mikolas’ day, and that of the Cardinals, was effectively over.
Mikolas has now made eight starts for the Cardinals since his last win, on July 21, and over that stretch has allowed 54 hits and 30 earned runs in 37 1/3 innings, an ERA of 7.23.
Going back to June 27, Mikolas has won only two of his last 13 starts and has a 6.75 ERA over that stretch, raising his ERA for the season to 5.55.
The loss, combined with Atlanta’s win and a loss by the Mets, left the Cardinals six games out of the third wildcard spot in the playoffs with 19 games left in the season.
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
At the plate: Jose Ferman drove in the first two runs for the Cardinals with a single in the second inning … After striking out in his first three at-bats, Jordan Walker delivered a two-run double in the eighth … Ivan Herrera was the only Cardinal with a two-hit day … They were 2-of-10 with a runner in scoring position, the hits by Fermin and Walker that produced all of their runs.
On the mound: The nine hits allowed by Mikolas in his two innings of work included three doubles and a two-run homer by former Cardinal Randy Arozarena. It was the shortest outing of his 29 starts this season … Steven Matz pitched four innings in relief of Mikolas, allowing another two-run homer in the fifth, to Jorge Polanco, one of only two hits that he allowed … Chris Roycroft allowed the 10th Seattle run in the ninth.
Key stat: Masyn Winn had a single in four at-bats, leaving him 1-of-11 in the series and 4-of-32 in the first seven games in September. He likely will get the day off on Tuesday.
Worth noting: Brendan Donovan was held out of the lineup for the second game in a row because of an infection in his foot … The Cardinals’ low Class A farm team, the Palm Beach Cardinals, ended their regular season on Sunday with a 23-8 win over Jupiter. They will begin the Florida State League playoffs against Daytona Beach (Reds) on Tuesday night after setting a franchise record with 83 wins, including going 46-18 in the second half of the season … Lance Lynn will be activated from the injured list and make the start on Wednesday night against the Reds.
Looking ahead: After a day off on Monday, the Cardinals will begin the three-game series on Tuesday night against the Reds at Busch Stadium with Andre Pallante the scheduled starter.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
Oliver Marmol Post-game
