Monday’s Game Report: Cardinals split doubleheader against Reds
By Rob Rains
The Cardinals were one out away from sweeping a doubleheader against the Reds on Monday but couldn’t get the 27th out until one batter too late.
Dane Myers hit a pinch-hit home run off Peter Strezelecki to tie the game, and the Reds then won the game 6-5 in the 10th on an RBI single by Elly De La Cruz in the second half of the day-night doubleheader in Cincinnati.
The Cardinals protected a two-run double by Alec Burleson in the first inning of the day game to win 2-1. They used five relievers in that victory, which left the bullpen short for the night game.
It was a big day for Myers, who also homered at the end of a 12-pitch at-bat against Quinn Mathews for the Reds’ only run in game one.
One highlight for the Cardinals in the night game was Ivan Herrera throwing out De La Cruz trying to steal second, which snapped his streak of allowing 62 consecutive stolen bases dating back to Sept. 1, 2024. De La Cruz originally was called safe, but the Cardinals challenged the call and it was overturned after a video review. Herrera asked for and was given the baseball.
Here is how Monday’s doubleheader broke down:
At the plate: Herrera hit his 14th homer of the year in the inning after his caught stealing. That helped the Cardinals build a 4-1 lead … After the Reds tied the game with three runs in the sixth, an RBI single by Bryan Torres put the Cardinals back in front 5-4 in the eighth. Their other RBIs came from Nathan Church, Masyn Winn and Blaze Jordan … Jordan Walker had three hits in the night game after collecting two hits in game one … The two RBIs from Burleson increased his season total to 92. It was the Cardinals only hit in 13 at-bats with a runner in scoring position in the day game. They were 4-of-14 in the night game.
On the mound: The home run from Myers in the day game was one of only two hits allowed by Quinn Mathews, called up from Memphis to make the start. He came out of the game after four innings and 95 pitches. He walked three and struck out seven … Andre Pallante allowed four runs in the night game on 10 hits … After Luis Gastelum, Gordon Graceffo, George Soriano, Ryne Stanek and Riley O’Brien all worked a scoreless inning in the day game, they were not available in the night game. O’Brien earned his 31st save … In the night game, Strezelcki allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings before Myers’ game-tying homer … De La Cruz’s game-winning hit came off Justin Bruihl.
Key stat: The day game was the 57th time the Cardinals played a game at Great American Ballpark and scored two or fewer runs. It was only the third time they won one of those games, joining a 2-1 win in 2023 and a 1-0 win in 2014.
Worth noting: Cardinals manager Oli Marmol was ejected in the 10th inning of the night game for arguing a checked swing call on Masyn Winn. Marmol also was upset when he thought Joshua Baez was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning, but umpires ruled he had swung at the pitch.
Up next: Kyle Leahy will get the start on Tuesday night in the third game of the five-game series.
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