Monday’s Game Report: Cardinals 11, Tigers 4
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals rolled out a new-look lineup on Monday night and they didn’t have to wait long to see how effective it could be.
In the fifth inning of the game against the Tigers at Busch Stadium, new cleanup hitter Willson Contreras came up with the bases loaded, set to be followed by Ivan Herrera and Nolan Arenado, dropped from fourth to sixth in the batting order.
All three drove in a run in the inning – even though none of them got the ball out of the infield or got a hit.
The three runs increased the Cardinals’ lead from 2-0 to 5-0 and they went to get the win in the opener of the three-game series.
Contreras grounded out to shortstop for the first run of the inning, followed by Masyn Winn beating a throw to the plate on a grounder from Herrera. Arenado was able to beat out a potential double-play ball to produce the third run.
The Cardinals blew the game open with a six-run seventh inning, following a rain delay. Every Cardinals starter except Arenado had at least one hit, seven Cardinals drove in at least one run and eight scored at least one run.
That was more than enough runs for Sonny Gray, who had a bounce-back start with six shutout innings.
Here is how Monday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals loaded the bases in the fifth on consecutive singles from Lars Nootbaar, Winn and Brendan Donovan … That was one of three hits for Donovan, after his four-hit game on Sunday, raising his average to .337 … His first hit of the night drove in Nootbaar, who had doubled in the first inning … Herrera also had two more hits, coming around to score on a wild pitch after he singled to lead off the fourth inning … The big hits in the seventh were a two-run double from Jordan Walker and a two-run homer from Pedro Pages, his third of the season.
On the mound: Gray struck out a season-high 10, scattering three hits and issuing one walk … Gray had failed to get out of the fourth inning in his previous start, allowing five runs in the first inning. In this game only one runner reached second base off Gray … The Cardinals lost the shutout bid when the Tigers scored a run off John King in the eighth and they then added three runs in the ninth off Gordon Graceffo.
Key stat: The Cardinals’ 16 hits marked the 22nd time in their 48 games this season they have recorded 10 or more hits in a game, putting them on a pace for 74 double-digit hit games for the season. They scored 10 or more runs for the sixth time; last year they had seven games scoring 10 or more runs all season.
Worth noting: The decision to move Arenado from fourth to sixth came after conversations between Arenado and manager Oli Marmol over the weekend in Kansas City. Arenado was hitless in his four at-bats … Arenado had started 71 games in his career in the sixth spot in the batting order, including 14 last season, the only times he has started in that spot since 2014 … Top pitching prospect Quinn Mathews, who has been out of the Memphis rotation since mid-April because of a shoulder issue, made a rehab start for the rookie Complex League team on Monday and worked two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, did not walk a batter and struck out four … The Tigers moved Jack Flaherty’s scheduled start on Wednesday back a day, so he will not pitch in this series.
Up next: Erick Fedde will get the start on Tuesday night. Tarik Skubal, who won the Cy Young award last year in the American League, will start for the Tigers.
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