Wednesday’s Game Report: Tigers 5, Cardinals 1
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals knew that Wednesday was going to be a bullpen game for the Tigers. They didn’t know it was going to be one for them as well.
And in the battle of the bullpens, the Tigers came out on top in the finale of the three-game series at Busch Stadium.
Trailing 2-0 after five innings, the Cardinals tried to play the matchup game with their relievers the rest of the game but couldn’t find the right combination to prevent the Tigers from adding to their lead and putting the game out of reach.
Phil Maton gave up an RBI single, with the run charged to starter Andre Pallante, to the first batter he faced. JoJo Romero hit the first batter he faced but was able to escape a bases-loaded jam.
Chris Roycroft wasn’t as lucky, walking the first batter he faced, then giving up a run-scoring double. The first batter facing John King delivered a sacrifice fly to finish off the scoring.
The back-to-back losses to the Tigers marked the first time the Cardinals lost consecutive games since May 1-2 and were their first back-to-back losses to the same team since they were swept in a four-game series by the Mets a month ago in New York. They lost consecutive games at home for the first time since the first week of the season.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals were held to just five hits, all singles, by six Detroit pitchers. Their only run scored in the sixth when Victor Scott II led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a fly to right and scored on a two-out single by Willson Contreras … They put runners on second and third in the seventh after two singles and a wild pitch, but Jordan Walker struck out and pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo, hitting for Scott II, flew out to center … Ivan Herrera was 0-of-3 with a walk, snapping his 10-game hitting streak.
On the mound: Andre Pallante worked 5 2/3 innings, leaving after walking two batters in the inning, one of whom scored on the hit off Maton. Pallante issued four walks in the game and allowed four hits as he became the first Cardinals starter charged with a loss since May 2 … Over the final 3 1/3 innings, Maton, Romero, Roycroft and King gave up a combined three hits, walked two and hit two batters.
Key stat: This was another series without an appearance from closer Ryan Helsley. Helsley has pitched in only six of the Cardinals’ 19 games in May. He has worked one inning in the last eight days, with another day off for the team coming on Thursday.
Worth noting: Lars Nootbaar had the day off, with Masyn Winn moving into the leadoff spot, where he went hitless in four at-bats, striking out twice. Nootbaar is hitting just .234 in May and his on-base percentage has dropped from .400 in April (when he drew 25 walks) to just .282 in May, with only six walks in 85 plate appearances … Nolan Arenado was a combined 2-of-12 in his first three games hitting sixth although one of his hits a two-run homer.
Up next: After Thursday’s day off, the Cardinals will host the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend. Miles Mikolas is the scheduled starter on Friday night.
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