Saturday’s Game Report: Cardinals 6, Diamondbacks 5
By Rob Rains
The way the game was going, Jordan Walker thought it might just find him one more time.
It had already happened three times – when he came through with a two-run double in the seventh that broke a 1-1 tie, when he failed to make a catch in the outfield in the top of the eighth that let the Diamondbacks take the lead, and then during another at-bat in the bottom of the inning, when Walker came through again with an RBI single that put the Cardinals back in front.
In the ninth, as the Diamondbacks got runners on second and third with two outs, Walker only had to watch as Ryan Helsley got the final strikeout that ended one of the Cardinals’ best games of the year.
When the game found Walker for the third time, he was really happy to get another chance at the plate.
“I needed to put the bat on the ball and find some green grass out there,” Walker said. “My philosophy was just tone it down a bit and try to shoot it somewhere.”
It was the first time Walker had two hits in a game since April 13 and his three RBIs were his most in a game this season.
“That’s what we’ve been headed toward the whole time for him,” said manager Oli Marmol. “That’s a big moment for Jordan.”
It came after the misplay in the outfield, one of two balls the Cardinals didn’t catch as the Diamondbacks scored four times. Walker tried to make a sliding catch on a sinking line drive but missed and the ball rolled behind him.
If the game had found him again, he knew what he wanted to do.
“Just try to be ready for that moment,” Walker said. “I think that’s what the game’s about.”
Here is how Saturday’s game broke down:
At the plate: After getting three consecutive singles and scoring a run in the first inning, the Cardinals had only one more hit until the seventh inning. A single by Alec Burleson and a walk to Nolan Arenado brought Walker to the plate after he had struck out in his first two at-bats. He lined the double to left center to drive in both runners and later scored himself on a groundout … In the eighth, Ivan Herrera walked and Burleson doubled to send him to third. Arenado’s grounder produced the tying run, and Walker’s hit to center scored Burleson to break the tie.
On the mound: Matthew Liberatore allowed only one run over seven innings, a home run from Randal Grichuk leading off the fifth. Liberatore scattered six hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four in his first start against his hometown team … The eighth inning rally came against Kyle Leahy and Steven Matz with Walker’s non-catch and a pop up to short center that wasn’t caught leading to the big inning … In the ninth, Helsley gave up a leadoff single and a one-out walk but a diving stop by Arenado got the second out before he was able to strike out Eugenio Suarez to end the game.
Key stat: Walker had been 6-of-41 in May with eight RBIs and 19 strikeouts before he came through with his big hits in the seventh and eighth innings.
Worth noting: The home run by Grichuk was the first of his career at Busch Stadium as a visiting player. His last homer there came in 2017 when he was still with the Cardinals … Willson Contreras didn’t play for the second consecutive game because of back spasms but reportedly was feeling better and Marmol was hopeful Contreras will be able to play on Sunday … Jon Jay has coached first the past two games while Stubby Clapp has been away from the team.
Up next: The Cardinals will try to complete a sweep of the three-game series on Sunday behind Sonny Gray. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.
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