Friday’s Game Report: Cardinals 5, Royals 4 (11 innings)
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals only had two hits with a runner in scoring position on Friday night, but they came at the exact right times.
Alec Burleson’s single in the 10th inning tied the game, and then Yohel Pozo came off the bench and delivered a pinch-hit single in the 11th that won the game against the Royals at Busch Stadium.
Those hits allowed the Cardinals to overcome their failed scoring chances in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, when they were a combined 0-of-8 with a runner on second or third and left six runners on base in a tie game.
It was the fourth walk-off win of the season for the Cardinals and their second last at-bat win in the last two days after they won Thursday’s game in the ninth inning in Sacramento. The win allowed the Cardinals to match their season high of eight games above .500 with a 26-18 record.
Here is how Friday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Jordan Walker had a three-hit night, including a two-run homer, his 13th of the season, which came with two outs in the fourth … Pedro Pages tied the game at 3-3 with his fourth homer of the year in the fifth … In the 10th, Burleson hit the first pitch to drive in the automatic runner from second and he went to third on a single by Nolan Gorman but was left stranded when Masyn Winn struck out and Nathan Church flew out … In the 11th, Pages’ sacrifice bunt advanced the automatic runner to third. After Jose Fermin grounded out for the second out, JJ Wetherholt was intentionally walked but Pozo, hitting for Thomas Saggese, hit the first pitch into right field to drive in Church with the winning run … Pozo had been 0-of-6 as a pinch-hitter this season … They finished the game 2-of-13 with a runner in scoring position.
On the mound: Dustin May allowed three runs on four hits and four walks over six innings … After the Cardinals used George Soriano, JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien to get the tie game to the 10th, Ryne Stanek gave up a go-ahead double to Bobby Witt Jr. but then got out of the inning without allowing additional runs … Gordon Graceffo walked the first batter he faced in the 11th but then retired the next three hitters to keep the game tied.
Key stat: With 13 homers, Walker moved into the lead among NL outfielders in home runs. He also is second among NL outfielders with 34 RBIs and his three hits raised his batting average to .309, which ranks third among outfielders in the National League.
Worth noting: Lars Nootbaar began his rehab assignment Friday night at low Class A Palm Beach and homered in his first at-bat. He also drew a walk, and played five innings in left field before coming out of the game. He can stay in the minors for 20 days before he will need to go back on the Cardinals’ roster … The Cardinals will need to make a roster decision on Saturday about reliever Matt Pushard, who has completed his rehab assignment at Memphis. As a Rule 5 draft pick, he has to either be on the major-league roster or the injured list or be offered back to the Marlins … Rainiel Rodriguez hit his first home run since being promoted to Double A Springfield on Friday night, a two-run shot in the 12th inning at Tulsa.
Up next: Kyle Leahy will get the start in the 1:15 p.m. game on Saturday.
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