Saturday’s Game Report: Pirates 6, Cardinals 2
By Rob Rains
One pitch ruined Brycen Mautz’s return to the major leagues on Saturday.
Recalled by the Cardinals from Memphis before the game, Mautz gave up a three-run homer to Rafael Flores Jr. with two outs in the fifth inning that turned a 2-1 game into a 5-1 lead for the Pirates en route to their win at Busch Stadium.
Mautz came on in relief of starter Kyle Leahy, this time limited to only three innings because of how closely the Cardinals are monitoring his pitches. Mautz worked three innings, with eight of his nine outs coming on strikeouts.
It was the second career appearance for the Cardinals for Mautz, who worked three innings in relief in a game on May 25 at Milwaukee. Cade Winquest followed Mautz to the mound for his major-league debut, working two scoreless innings.
Here is how Saturday’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Pirates held the Cardinals to only three hits, one of which was the first career home run at Busch Stadium for Joshua Baez, his fifth since he was promoted from Memphis … Their other hits were an infield single by Nathan Church leading off the fourth and a leadoff double by Jimmy Crooks in the seventh, both of whom were left on base … Three consecutive errors by the Pirates in the sixth gave the Cardinals their second run.
On the mound: Leahy, who was removed from the game after throwing 51 pitches, allowed a home run in the first inning by Brandon Lowe. It was the first home run Leahy has allowed in six starts and ended a streak of 106 batters faced without allowing a home run … Mautz gave up five hits in his three innings, including a leadoff single in the fourth that led to a run, He also walked the leadoff hitter in the fifth before Flores’ homer … The only runner Winquest allowed came on a walk, and he was then thrown out at second after he was picked off first by Winquest, who struck out two.
Key stat: In the first 15 games of his career, Joshua Baez has nine hits – five homers, two doubles and two singles.
Worth noting: To open a spot on the roster for Mautz, lefthanded reliever Caleb Ferguson was designated for assignment. The Cardinals had obtained Ferguson from the Reds at the trading deadline for international bonus cap space … The Cardinals have hit at least one homer in each of their last 12 games … Winquest became the 10th player to make his major-league debut with the Cardinals this season.
Up next: Matthew Liberatore will get the start on Sunday in the final game of the series.
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