Tuesday’s Game Report: Mariners 5, Cardinals 3
By Rob Rains
For as long as their careers in the major leagues last, Matthew Liberatore is going to be compared to Randy Arozarena because of the 2020 trade that sent Liberatore to the Cardinals and Arozarena to Tampa Bay.
At least for one night, the bragging rights went to Arozarena.
Now playing with the Mariners, Arozarena hit a long three-run homer and added a sacrifice fly off Liberatore on Tuesday night to send the Mariners to the win over the Cardinals in Seattle.
It was only the second head-to-head matchup between Liberatore and Arozarena, who was 1-of-3 against Liberatore coming into the game.
The home run in the third inning wiped out a 2-0 lead for the Cardinals, who tied the game at 3 in the fourth only to see the Mariners retake the lead for good in the bottom of the inning.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals took the lead in the second inning on a leadoff single by Willson Contreras, a double from Nolan Gorman and a single by Thomas Saggese … In the fourth, Saggese scored after he drew a one-out walk, followed by a single by Pedro Pages and a two-out infield single by Jose Fermin. Lars Nootbaar walked to load the bases, but Ivan Herrera ground out to end the inning … The Cardinals got the tying run to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings after a single by Contreras in the eighth and a single by Fermin in the ninth, but stranded both runners … Victor Scott II stole his 32nd base of the season, the first steal by the Cardinals in 17 games.
On the mound: Liberatore also allowed a home run to Josh Naylor in the fourth. He gave up six hits and walked three in his four innings of work and saw his record fall to 7-12 … Kyle Leahy worked two scoreless innings in relief and Nick Raquet added his second scoreless inning in his second career game.
Key stat: In 11 career games against the Cardinals, Arozarena has a .326 average (14-of-43) with two homers and 12 RBIs.
Worth noting: Brendan Donovan began a rehab assignment with Double A Springfield. He walked three times in four plate appearances while playing six innings at second base. Donovan has been on the IL since Aug. 13 while recovering from toe and groin injuries … Nolan Arenado, out since July 30 because of a shoulder injury, will join Donovan on Wednesday night in Springfield … Also coming to Springfield is lefthander Liam Doyle, the Cardinals’ top pick in this year’s amateur draft. Doyle was promoted after making his first professional start on Saturday night for Palm Beach, working 1 2/3 innings … Masyn Winn was a late scratch from Tuesday night’s lineup because of knee soreness … The rosters for the Arizona Fall League are scheduled to be released on Wednesday.
Up next: Michael McGreevy will get the start on Wednesday night as the Cardinals try to salvage the final game of the series against the Mariners.
