Tuesday’s Game Report: Cardinals 6, Athletics 4
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals played their first game ever in Sacramento on Tuesday night. It started well, and unlike their previous game on Sunday in San Diego, it ended well too.
A four-run first inning staked Andre Pallante to an early lead, JJ Wetherholt added a two-run homer and Riley O’Brien closed out the win over the Athletics.
It was a nice bounce-back for O’Brien, who gave up a game tying homer with two outs in the ninth on Sunday before the Padres won the game in the 10th inning.
The big hit in the first inning was a two-run double from Jose Fermin, who got the start in left field.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals jumped out to the early lead with their biggest first inning of the season. After Wetherholt walked, Ivan Herrara and Jordan Walker singled to produce the first run. Fermin’s double increased the lead to 3-0, and he then scored on a single by Yohel Pozo, who was in the lineup as the DH … Wetherholt’s homer, a two-run shot in the sixth, increased the lead to 6-3. It was his eighth homer of the season. He also singled in the eighth, only his second two-hit game this month.
On the mound: The Athletics cut the lead to 4-3 in the second off Pallante but he was able to protect that margin through the fifth inning. All four hits he allowed came during the three-run rally in the second … Ryne Stanek and JoJo Romero each worked a scoreless inning but George Soriano gave up a long home run to Shea Langeliers in the eighth that cut the lead to 6-4 … O’Brien walked the first hitter he faced in the ninth, but then got a double play and a comebacker to finish off the win and earn his 12th save.
Key stat: Wetherholt’s homer was his first in 38 at-bats in May after he hit seven homers in April. With his two hits, he is now 8-of-38 this month, a .210 average.
Worth noting: Rainiel Rodriguez made his Double A debut for Springfield on Tuesday night after his promotion from Peoria on Monday. He was 2-of-4 and also drew a walk in the game in Tulsa. The 19-year-old catcher is now the second youngest player in all of Double A … Thomas Saggese struck out in both of his at-bats and is now hitless in his last 29 at-bats … Pozo made only his third start of the season and first since April 14.
Up next: Matthew Liberatore will get the start on Wednesday night in the second game of the three-game series.
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