Thursday’s Game Report: Cardinals 5, Athletics 4
By Rob Rains
One strike away from a bad loss, the comeback Cardinals rallied to turn Thursday’s game against the Athletics into a dramatic win instead in Sacramento.
Ahead 3-1 after six innings, when starter Michael McGreevy was pulled after throwing just 74 pitches, the Cardinals saw the Athletics score three runs against Ryne Stanek and JoJo Romero in the seventh to take a 4-3 lead.
That was still the score when the Cardinals, with a runner on first and two outs, were one strike away from a loss before JJ Wetherholt was hit by a pitch. Ivan Herrera followed with an RBI single to tie the game and Jordan Walker doubled to put the Cardinals in front.
Riley O’Brien hit the first batter he faced in the bottom of the ninth before completing the victory.
Earlier in the game Walker hit his 12th home run of the season and he also robbed a home run in right field.
It was the 12th comeback win of the season for the Cardinals and the third time they won a game they trailed going to the ninth inning.
Here is how Thursday’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals’ first two runs came on home runs from Victor Scott II, his second of the year, and Walker’s blast, which was part of a two-run sixth inning which gave the Cardinals the lead. After the homer, Masyn Winn reached third on a ball that didn’t leave the infield, thanks to two throwing errors by the Athletics, and he scored on a single by Nolan Gorman … Yohel Pozo, serving as the DH, had three hits, including a leadoff single in the ninth.
On the mound: McGreevy allowed a home run to the first batter he faced, Nick Kurtz, but shut out the Athletics over the next five innings. He allowed three hits in the first inning, but pitched out of that jam and retired 12 of the last 13 hitters he faced … Zack Gelof homered off Stanek before Romero relieved with a runner on first and gave up three consecutive singles, the last of which, by Shea Langeliers, drove in the tying and go-ahead runs … After Matt Svanson worked a scoreless eighth, O’Brien got the final three outs, stranding the tying run, and earning his 13th save.
Key stat: In the first 43 games of the season, the Cardinals have not had a starting pitcher throw a pitch in the seventh inning. The last Cardinals starter to work more than six innings in a game was McGreevy, with a seven-inning outing on Sept. 16 of last season.
Worth noting: The win allowed the Cardinals to finish their seven-game trip to California with a 4-3 record and win two of the three games in Sacramento … Jose Fermin made his first start at first base in his 11 years in professional baseball … Pitching at Memphis on Thursday Hunter Dobbins allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings.
Up next: The Cardinals return home on Friday night to open a three-game series against the Royals at Busch Stadium. Dustin May will get the start.
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