Saturday’s Game Report: Red Sox 7, Cardinals 1
By Rob Rains
A home run from Jordan Walker in the eighth inning Saturday night kept the Cardinals’ hopes alive of pulling off another comeback victory, something they have done often so far this season.
Those hopes evaporated quickly in the top of the ninth.
Walker’s homer cut the Red Sox lead to 2-1, but six consecutive hits off Matt Svanson in the ninth led to a five-run inning that blew the game open and gave the Red Sox the win at Busch Stadium.
Svanson had recorded the final two outs in the eighth, but then issued a leadoff walk in the ninth followed by an out before giving up the six hits in a row, one of which came from former Cardinal Willson Contreras.
It was the third RBI of the night for Contreras, who drove in both of the first two runs for the Red Sox with a double in the fourth inning.
Here is how Saturday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Walker had struck out in his previous two at-bats before hitting his sixth homer of the year and fifth in the last week with two outs in the eighth, a shot to straightaway center field. It was only the third hit for the Cardinals since the first inning … They were shut out on just three hits through the first six innings by Ranger Suarez … JJ Wetherholt’s single in the first extended his streak of reaching base to all 13 games he has started this season … The Cardinals left two runners on base in the first following back-to-back two-out walks but then had only two more baserunners until the seventh.
On the mound: Contreras’ double in the fourth came off starter Kyle Leahy, who had to throw 35 pitches in that inning and then came out of the game … Gordon Graceffo retired the first seven hitters he faced but then got into a jam in the seventh when the Red Sox loaded the bases. Justin Bruihl relieved and got out of the inning … Svanson has allowed 15 runs in just 8 2/3 innings this season, a 15.58 ERA.
Key stat: Walker now leads the NL in home runs and has matched his total from last season.
Worth noting: Alec Burleson was not in the starting lineup for the first time this season but entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh, drawing a walk, and finished the game at first base … The Cardinals hope Masyn Winn will be able to play on Sunday after having to leave Friday night’s game when he was hit by a pitch on his left leg … Packy Naughton will get a second opinion about his elbow after he had to leave a game with Memphis earlier this week with apparent ligament damage … Lars Nootbaar is spending the weekend in St. Louis as he continues progressing through his injury rehab.
Up next: Andre Pallante will get the start on Sunday in the finale of the three-game series.
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