Saturday’s Game Report: Cardinals 4, Royals 2
By Rob Rains
The evolution of Kyle Leahy as a starting pitcher for the Cardinals took a big step forward on Saturday.
In his ninth start of the season, and 10th of his career, Leahy pitched a career-best six innings protecting a narrow lead and helping the Cardinals defeat the Royals for the second day in a row at Busch Stadium.
Leahy scattered five hits and pitched around three walks as he did not give up a run until the fifth inning, which tied the game, before the Cardinals scored twice in the bottom of the fifth.
Leahy threw a first-pitch strike to 18 of the 25 hitters he faced. Over his last three starts Leahy has only allowed two runs in a combined 16 1/3 innings.
The win improved the Cardinals’ record to 27-18, a season-best nine games above .500.
Here is how Saturday’s game broke down:
At the plate: A sacrifice fly from Alec Burleson, following a double by Ivan Herrera and a single by Jordan Walker, staked Leahy to the 1-0 lead in the first inning … Thomas Saggese, playing second base as JJ Wetherholt got his first full day off this season, led off the fifth inning with a single. The hit was the first for Saggese since April 11, snapping a 0-of-30 streak. Nathan Church hustled his way to a double, and Saggese scored on a groundout by Victor Scott II and Church scored on a sacrifice fly from Masyn Winn … The Cardinals added an insurance run in the eighth on a single by Burleson.
On the mound: With their top relievers unavailable because of heavy use in recent games, the Cardinals used Gordon Graceffo, Justin Bruihl and George Soriano to cover the final three innings and complete the victory. Graceffo allowed a one-out double in the seventh and Bruihl worked a 1-2-3 eighth before Soriano gave up a leadoff homer in the ninth and a single but then got a fly out and a double play to earn his second save of the season.
Key stat: Saggese is only the fourth Cardinals position player to have a hitless streak of 30 or more at-bats since 1994, Erik Pappas had a 0-of-33 streak that season; Pete Kozma had a 0-of-33 streak in 2013 and Matt Carpenter was hitless for 31 consecutive at-bats in 2021. The franchise record for the longest streak without a hit by a position player was a 0-of-37 streak by Tony Scott in 1979.
Worth noting: Hoping to keep the enthusiasm going from the shirtless fans that brought the team an inspirational spark Friday night, manager Oli Marmol bought more than 1,000 tickets for those sections in right field to give away to fans for both Saturday and Sunday’s games. “Last night’s atmosphere was electric. Let’s run it back this weekend,” he posted on X, in his first tweet since 2019. “I’ll buy tickets for fans who want to sit in the right field loge and bring the energy.” The Cardinals said all available tickets were claimed within an hour … Before the game the Cardinals recalled reliever Matt Pushard from his rehab assignment in Memphis and designated Jared Shuster for assignment. It’s the second time this season that Shuster has been DFA’d. As a Rule 5 draft selection Pushard has to be on the active roster or the injured list for the entire season or be offered back to the Marlins.
Up next: Andre Pallante will get the start on Sunday as the Cardinals try t complete a sweep of the three-game series.
Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains
