Sunday’s Game Report: Cardinals sweep doubleheader from Mets
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals have not been able to find a spot in their starting rotation for Michael McGreevy so far this season – but when they needed him on Sunday, he was ready.
McGreevy was called up from Memphis before Saturday’s rainout to offer protection if one of their starters in the weekend games had to come out of a game early.
That happened in the second game of the doubleheader against the Mets, when Andre Pallante was knocked out of the game in the fourth inning.
McGreevy took over, and held the Mets to just one hit over 5 2/3 scoreless innings and he got the win when the Cardinals rallied from a 4-2 deficit to earn a 5-4 victory and complete a sweep of the day-night doubleheader at Busch Stadium.
McGreevy wasn’t the only Cardinal who came through in a big moment during the long day. That list also included Victor Scott II, who took a three-run homer away from Juan Soto in the fourth inning of the night game, going above the center-field wall to make the catch.
In the day game, it was JoJo Romero who was able to get out of a bases-loaded, one out jam in the eighth inning that preserved a 6-5 victory.
Here is how Sunday’s games broke down:
At the plate: Scott’s two-out double in the sixth inning drove in Yohel Pozo from first to break a 4-4 tie and provide what turned out to be the winning run in the second game … Alec Burleson hit his first home run of the year, a two-run shot in the second, and Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras also contributed RBI singles … In the day game, Contreras hit his first home run at Busch Stadium this year as part of his three-RBI game … Brendan Donovan also contributed a two-run single.
On the mound: McGreevy walked one, hit a batter and struck out five. He came into the game with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, getting out of the jam with a strikeout and a diving catch in right by Jordan Walker … McGreevy retired the last 10 hitters he faced, one on a foul ball caught by Arenado as he fell into the seats beyond third base … In the day game, Romero walked Soto to load the bases before striking out Pete Alonso on a 3-2 pitch and retiring Brandon Nimmo to protect a one-run lead … Ryan Helsley earned only his second save since April 16, pitching around a leadoff single and stranding the would-be tying run at third base.
Key stat: Including his three starts and one relief appearance last season, McGreevy is now 4-0 to start his major-league career with a 1.57 ERA, allowing only five runs over 23 innings with 18 strikeouts.
Worth noting: Masyn Winn had to come out of the second game after spraining his left ankle in an awkward slide at third base … The home runs from Contreras and Burleson both came as they were playing first base, extending the Cardinals’ drought without a home run from a designated hitter to the first 35 games of the season … The win in the first game snapped the Cardinals’ nine-game losing streak against the Mets dating back to April of last season … They swept a doubleheader from the Mets in St. Louis for the first time since 1974.
Up next: The homestand will continue on Monday night with the first of three games against the Pirates. Miles Mikolas is the scheduled starter.
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