Tuesday’s Game Report: Tigers 5, Cardinals 4
By Rob Rains
Kyle Leahy has been one of the Cardinals’ most effective relievers this season but he was reminded again on Tuesday night that no one can be perfect forever.
Leahy had not allowed a run in his last 14 innings covering 10 appearances, since April 18, when he entered a tie game against the Tigers in the eighth inning at Busch Stadium.
After getting the third out in the inning, he came back out for the ninth but allowed a leadoff single, followed by a double by Riley Greene, that gave the Tigers the victory.
Both the hits by Zach McKinstry and Greene were by lefthanded hitters after Leahy had held lefthanders to a .114 batting average this season, allowing only four hits in 41 plate appearances prior to Tuesday night.
The loss spoiled a spirited comeback from the Cardinals, who trailed reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal 4-0 after the third inning. They knocked him out of the game in the sixth inning and tied the game in the seventh.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: A two-run homer from Nolan Arenado started the Cardinals comeback in the fifth inning … Masyn Winn led off the sixth with an infield single, advanced to second on a balk and to third on Willson Contreras’ groundout before scoring on a single by Ivan Herrera that cut the lead to 4-3 and knocked Skubal out of the game … Herrera extended his hitting streak to 10 games … In the seventh, Victor Scott II led off wih a double, went to third on a groundout and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly from Masyn Winn … The Cardinals got the potential go-ahead run to second base with two outs in the eighth but Pedro Pages flew out to center to end the inning.
On the mound: Erick Fedde allowed two home runs, including a leadoff blast from Kerry Carpenter, as the Tigers took the early lead … Fedde had not allowed a home run at Busch Stadium since joining the Cardinals last season, a span of 43 innings … Fedde and reliever Steven Matz combined to retire 15 consecutive batters after Greene’s two-run homer in the third.
Key stat: The Cardinals’ starters had not allowed more than two runs in 11 of the previous 12 games. The team’s starters have not been charged with a loss since May 2.
Worth noting: Greene is only the second visiting player to drive in four runs in a game this season at Busch Stadium. Logan O’Hoppe of the Angels hit a grand slam on April 2 … Tink Hence, one of the Cardinals’ top pitching prospects who is yet to appear in a game this season, is set to make a rehab start for Class A Palm Beach on Wednesday … Johua Baez, a former second-round draft pick, had another big game for Class A Peoria on Tuesday with two homers and a double in a four-hit game that raised his average to .331. He also leads all Cardinals minor leaguers with 18 stolen bases.
Up next: Andre Pallante will get the start on Wednesday in the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
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