Tuesday’s Game Report: Cardinals 12, White Sox 2
By Rob Rains
Apparently the tonic for the Cardinals to break out of their June swoon was a game against the White Sox.
Brendan Donovan led a 13-hit attack with a four-hit night out of the leadoff spot and the Cardinals opened the three-game series Tuesday night in Chicago with a blowout win.
The Cardinals had lost seven of their previous eight games and were 4-10 in June before scoring in six different innings, ignited by a five-run second inning.
The beneficiary of the big offensive night was Matthew Liberatore, who snapped his personal three-game losing streak by allowing only two runs over six innings.
The loss was the sixth in a row for the White Sox, who fell to 23-50 so far this season.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Ivan Herrera had a pair of two-run singles for a four-RBI night and lost another RBI when Michael A. Taylor went above the fence to rob Herrera of a home run in the fifth inning … Donovan had hits in his first four at-bats, three singles and a double, drove in a run and scored twice. He raised his average to .323 with his 11th game this season getting three or more hits … Alec Burleson added three hits, including his sixth homer of the year, and drove in two runs … Infielder Vinny Capra pitched the ninth for the White Sox, and Victor Scott II connected for a two-run homer, his third of the season.
On the mound: Liberatore earned his first win in seven road starts this season. He scattered five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four … Riley O’Brien allowed one hit in his two scoreless innings before Andre Granillo worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Key stat: Despite their two home runs, the Cardinals remain the only team in the National League that does not have a player with 10 or more home runs this season. There are 38 players in the NL with 10 or more home runs.
Worth noting: Willson Contreras stole home in the fifth when Nolan Arenado walked and the catcher threw to second base, with Contreras beating the throw home. He originally was called out but the call was overturned after a challenge by the Cardinals … Lars Nootbaar was back in the lineup but dropped to seventh in the order. He walked and was hit by a pitch but also was 0-of-3, extending his hitless streak to 27 at-bats … Tink Hence, one of the Cardinals top pitching prospects, was removed from the 60-day injured list and assigned to Double A Springfield. He is scheduled to start on Friday night.
Up next: Sonny Gray will get the start on Wednesday night in the second game of the series.
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