Sunday’s Game Report: Yankees 8, Cardinals 4
By Rob Rains
During a weekend when virtually nothing went right for the Cardinals, what happened in the ninth inning on Sunday probably was a pretty fitting way for it to end.
Playing shorthanded because they did not want to put either Brendan Donovan or Willson Contreras on the injured list and lose them for 10 days, the Cardinals were tied 4-4 against the Yankees entering the ninth.
The Yankees sent six batters to the plate against JoJo Romero and did not get a hit – but still managed to score three times in what turned out to be a four-run inning that completed their three-game series sweep at Busch Stadium.
It was the fifth consecutive loss for the Cardinals, one game shy of their season-high six-game losing streak in June.
Two errors, on separate plays, by Thomas Saggese, a passed ball, two walks and a fielder’s choice grounded produced the runs before former Cardinal Paul Goldschmidt capped the inning with his second double and third hit of the game, driving in the fourth run.
The Cardinals had a lead for one inning on Sunday, 4-3 after Yohel Pozo’s home run in the sixth, before the Yankees tied it in the seventh. In the 27 innings in the series, the Cardinals only led after three innings. Their starting pitchers allowed a combined 13 runs in 15 innings and the Cardinals were outscored 24-15 in the series.
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
At the plate: Saggese doubled in the first two runs in the fourth and Alec Burleson added an RBI single in the fifth … Lars Nootbaar had three hits out of the leadoff spot but the Cardinals did not have a hit after Pozo’s homer in the sixth as the Yankees retired 12 of the final 13 batters … The team was 2-of-11 with a runner in scoring position.
On the mound: Miles Mikolas did not allow a hit through the first three innings but then gave up three runs in the fourth when the Yankees strung together four consecutive hits. The Cardinals have gone 4-8 in Mikolas’ last 12 starts dating back to June 12 … Cody Bellinger tied the game for the Yankees in the seventh with a sacrifice fly set up by a leadoff walk and single by Aaron Judge.
Key stat: The three games against the Yankees drew a combined attendance of 90,334, an average of 30,111. The last time the Yankees played in St. Louis, in 2023 the three games drew 133,759, an average of 44,586. Going into that series in early July the Cardinals were 14 games under .500.
Worth noting: Nathan Church was promoted from Memphis and made his major-league debut, starting in center field, after Victor Scott II was placed on the injured list because of a sprained ankle he suffered on Saturday night. Church was hitless in four at-bats … Church is only the third player to make his major-league debut this season for the Cardinals, following Matt Svanson and Andre Granillo, and according to research by Carson Shipley of the Cardinals public relations department, this is the latest into a season the team had its first position player make his debut since John Nelson on Sept. 7, 2006 … Before the game the Cardinals also recalled lefthanded reliever Anthony Veneziano from Memphis and optioned Roddery Munoz … Manager Oli Marmol was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes. It was his fifth ejection of the season … Nootbaar left the game in the seventh because of muscle cramping.
Up next: The Cardinals will open a three-game series against the Marlins on Monday night in Miami. Matthew Liberatore is the scheduled starter. They also will play three games against the Rays in Tampa during their week in Florida.
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