Saturday’s Game Report: Cardinals 6, Reds 5
By Rob Rains
The early returns are in on what kind of an impact inserting Lars Nootbaar into the lineup will have on the Cardinals’ offense.
Two games, two wins.
Nootbaar had two hits, scored a run and drove in one in his first game off the injured list on Friday night and he had an even bigger role on Saturday in a game he didn’t even start.
It was to be a pre-planned day off for Nootbaar, but he came off the bench to pinch-hit in the sixth inning and stayed in the game in center field, which brought him to the plate again in the eighth with the Cardinals trailing the Reds 5-4 at Busch Stadium.
With a runner on second, Nootbaar flipped the game with one swing of his bat, launching a two-run homer, earning a curtain call, before Riley O’Brien closed out the victory in the ninth – albeit not without a little drama.
After O’Brien retired the first two batters, back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases. A 3-1 pitch to Sal Stewart was called ball, which would have brought in the tying run, but catcher Jimmy Crooks challenged the call and it was overturned to a strike. Stewart then grounded out to end the game.
Here is how Saturday’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals bunched five singles to score three runs in the second, including a two-RBI hit from Masyn Winn … Jordan Walker hit his 16th homer of the year in the fifth to pull the Cardinals within a run of the Reds. It matches his career-high set as a rookie in 2023 … The Cardinals had a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the sixth when they loaded the bases with nobody out but Crooks hit into a first-to-home-to-first double play and Winn grounded out … In the eighth, Jose Fermin led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Bryan Torres before Nootbaar’s go-ahead home run.
On the mound: Matthew Liberatore gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings, leaving with the Cardinals down 5-3. Two of the runs were unearned because of a fielding error by Alec Burleson. A home run by Matt McLain off Liberatore in the fourth was the first the Cardinals have allowed in a span of 181 batters … Gordon Graceffo. Ryne Stanek and George Soriano combined to work 3 2/3 scoreless innings before O’Brien earned his 16th save.
Key stat: In addition to hitting his 16th home run, Walker also stole his 10th base of the season. The only other player in the majors with 16 or more home runs and at least 10 stolen bases is James Wood of the Nationals, who has 17 homers to go along with 10 steals.
Worth noting: Manager Oli Marmol said the next appearance for Hunter Dobbins will be as a starter as the Cardinals will at least temporarily go to a six-man rotation. After Monday’s day off, the Cardinals have only one scheduled day off between Tuesday and June 28, playing 19 games in 20 days … Ramon Urias had to leave his rehab game at Memphis on Friday night because of discomfort in his left elbow. He was en route to St. Louis on Saturday and the team will know about his status after he is examined by medical personnel … Tre Richardson III, who was a high school teammate of Masyn Winn in Houston, has hit 10 home runs since May 14 for Peoria, in a span of 15 games. Richardson had a total of four home runs in 692 career at-bats prior to this home run outburst.
Up next: The Cardinals and Reds will conclude the series and homestand with a 1:15 p.m. game on Sunday. Michael McGreevy is the scheduled starter as the Cardinals try to complete a series sweep.
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