Friday’s Game Report: Cardinals 5, Cubs 0
By Rob Rains
Since coming back from a rehab assignment to the minor leagues following the All-Star break, Jordan Walker has been showing the offensive promise the Cardinals had hoped to see.
On Friday night, that included a long home run as the Cardinals shut out the Cubs at Busch Stadium in the opener of a weekend series.
Walker also had a pair of singles giving him his second consecutive three-hit game – the first time he has done that in his career – as he drove in two runs.
In the 18 games since he rejoined the Cardinals, Walker has gone 21-of-66, a .318 average, with at least one hit in 14 of the 18 games.
Walker’s home run in the sixth inning, over the visiting bullpen, was his first in the majors since May 17, ending a streak of 109 at-bats without a home run.
That was all the offense Michael McGreevy and the Cardinals needed as McGreevy worked six scoreless innings before the bullpen completed the shutout.
Here is how Friday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Walker’s infield single in the second drove in the first run for the Cardinals … A sacrifice fly from Ivan Herrera and an RBI single from Willson Contreras increased the lead to 3-0 in the fifth … Walker’s homer, his fourth of the year, came with two outs in the sixth. Thomass Saggese followed the blast with a double and he scored on a single by Pedro Pages … Walker added his third hit, the second single, in the eighth … Alec Burleson also had a three-hit night.
On the mound: McGreevy scattered six hits over his six innings, stranding seven runners on base. He was hit by line drive in his chest off the bat of Pete Crow-Armstrong in the second but was able to stay in the game … Matt Svanson, JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien combined to allow only one single over the final three innings to lock down the victory.
Key stat: The RBI for Contreras was his first of the season in 25 at-bats this season against the Cubs despite posting a .320 average, 8-of-25, in eight games.
Worth noting: The last three games between the Cubs nd Cardinals at Busch Stadium have been shutouts, the first two by the Cubs on June 25-26 … Former Cardinal Yadier Molina was back in the dugout for Friday night’s game, serving as a guest coach, and also will be there again on Saturday night.
Up next: Andre Pallante will get the start on Saturday night in the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. and the game will be televised by Fox.
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