Wednesday’s Game Report: Athletics 6, Cardinals 2
By Rob Rains
Matthew Liberatore’s bid to continue a strong string of performances from the Cardinals’ starters ended with one pitch on Wednesday night.
Liberatore gave up a grand slam to Nick Kurtz in the fifth inning that sent the Athletics to a win over the Cardinals in Sacramento.
Over the first four innings, Liberatore had allowed five hits but kept the Athletics off the scoreboard, but he wasn’t as fortunate in the fifth.
Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Kurtz, who hit the first grand slam Liberatore has allowed in his major-league career.
Here is how Wednesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: An RBI single from Nathan Church had given the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning … Their second run scored in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Ivan Herrera … The Cardinals had 13 hits but only one of them came with a runner in scoring position, in nine at-bats, and they left 10 runners on base … Alec Burleson had three of the hits … A bloop single from Pedro Pages in the seventh snapped his hitless streak at 22 at-bats, the longest streak without a hit in his career.
On the mound: The four runs allowed by Liberatore were the most he has given up in a start since April 25, when he allowed five against the Mariners … The Athletics added runs off Justin Bruihl and Gordon Graceffo in the seventh and eighth.
Key stat: This was only the second time in 11 games in May the Cardinals starter allowed more than three runs. Collectively the starters have given up 21 earned runs in 62 innings, an ERA of 3.05.
Worth noting: Lars Nootbaar is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend, likely with the Palm Beach Cardinals. Depending on how the rehab goes he is projected to be ready to rejoin the Cardinals in early June.
Up next: Michael McGreevy will get the start on Thursday in the final game of the series and the roadtrip.
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