Friday’s Game Report: Cardinals 7, White Sox 3
By Rob Rains
On a night the Cardinals honored part of their past, their future was very much on display.
In his first game at Busch Stadium, Leo Bernal had three hits and drove in two runs and Joshua Baez matched that performance to lead the Cardinals to a win over the White Sox.
Watching the two young rookies were more than two dozen members of the 2006 World Champion Cardinals. Baez was only three years old when that team won the World Series, while Bernal was two.
Baez hit two doubles and Bernal had one as they continued their strong play from the last week. On the nine-game road trip, Baez went 11-of-28 in the eight games that he started with two homers, six RBI and nine runs scored.
Bernal made his major-league debut in the first game of the trip and had at least one hit in eight of the nine games with two homers, 10 RBIs and six runs scored.
Here is how Friday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker also enjoyed a productive night. Burleson had two hits with two RBIs and also scored a run. The RBIs increased his season total to 106. One of his hits was his 35th double … Walker also had two hits and scored twice before coming out of the game … The Cardinals broke the game open with three runs in the fifth on a double by Walker, followed by a single from Burleson, a double by Baez and a single by Bernal.
On the mound: The Cardinals pulled starter Matthew Liberatore after 4 1/3 innings. He scattered six hits and walked three but only gave up two runs … Five relievers combined to protect the lead, with the only run scoring off Justin Bruihl in the eighth … Riley O’Brien pitched a 1-2-3 ninth even though it was not a save situation.
Worth noting: How he recovers from his pre-game workout will determine the next steps for JJ Wetherholt (right wrist tendinitis) and when he will be able to return to the lineup … Blaze Jordan (sprained ankle) said he expects to begin a short rehab assignment with Memphis on Tuesday night … Hunter Dobbins was back in the clubhouse and clarified that he did not have Tommy John surgery. He said the surgery on his elbow was just to reattach the ligament. He still is expected to miss most if not all of next season … The Arizona Fall League announced that Springfield outfielder Tai Peete will be one of the Cardinals representatives in the league when play begins next month. The rest of the Cardinals’ participants have not been announced … The 2006 World Champion Cardinals were honored in a pre-game parade around the field as part of their 20th anniversary reunion.
Up next: Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and the late Bill Sherdel will be inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in a pre-game ceremony before Saturday night’s game. Kyle Leahy will get the start in the game against the White Sox, with Cooper Hjerpe set to follow in relief in his Busch Stadium debut.
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