Monday’s Game Report: Orioles 5, Cardinals 2
By Rob Rains
Dylan Carlson had many special moments during his years with the Cardinals and on Monday he enjoyed one against his former team.
Carlson’s three-run homer was the biggest hit of the game and sent the Orioles to the win over the Cardinals in the opener of their three-game series in Baltimore.
Carlson also singled, stole second and scored in the third before hitting his three-run homer off Erick Fedde in the fourth inning.
The Cardinals traded Carlson, a former first-round draft pick, to Tampa Bay last July. He was released by the Rays after the season and signed with Baltimore over the winter.
Jackson Holliday, the son of former Cardinal Matt Holliday, had a pair of singles, scored once and drove in a run to contribute to the Orioles win.
Here is how Monday’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals were limited to just four hits and scored their only runs on a two-run homer by Pedro Pages, his fourth of the season, in the fifth inning … Nolan Gorman got the start at third base in place of Nolan Arenado and had two of the hits by the Cardinals, both singles. Their other hit was a leadoff double by Brendan Donovan in the sixth but he was left stranded at third base. That turned out to be the last hit and baserunner for the Cardinals as the Orioles retired the final 12 batters in order … Jordan Walker was 0-of-4 and struck out three times.
On the mound: Fedde was charged with all five of the Orioles runs as he allowed seven hits in five innings. The Orioles put the leadoff hitter on base in each of the first four innings and three times he came around to score … Matt Svanson, John King and Gordon Graceffo combined to shut out the Orioles over the final three innings.
Key stat: Throwing errors by Gorman and Donovan led to two unearned runs for the Orioles. The Cardinals had only allowed two unearned runs combined in their previous 20 games. The error by Donovan was his first of the season.
Worth noting: Arenado got the day off after he was shaken up when he fell into the seats at Busch Stadium in the ninth inning on Sunday while catching a foul ball. Arenado was stiff and sore but the Cardinals hope he might be well enough to be able to play in the second game of the series on Tuesday night … Willson Contreras returned to the lineup after missing three games because of back spasms but he was hitless in four at-bats, striking out twice … Lars Nootbaar also was 0-of-4 with three strikeouts and has just one hit in his last 20 at-bats as his average has fallen to .239 … Victor Scott II stole his 16th base of the year.
Up next: Andre Pallante will get the start on Tuesday night in the middle game of the series.
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