Cardinals vs Royals Recap: Cardinals squander early lead. And late lead. And lose. Again.

Well, the game certainly started well.  Jaime Garcia opened with a perfect inning that included two strikeouts, while the Cardinals loaded the bases in their half of the inning before Yadier Molina hit into a double play to end the first.  In the second, Jaime again pitched a perfect inning, and again the Cardinals loaded the bases. This time, however, Kolten Wong, kicking adversity in the face, launched his first home run of his career. While Jaime allowed a few singles in the third and the fourth innings, there was nothing super concerning or indicative of the floodgates that would open in the 5th inning.

Jaime got Lorenzo Cain swinging before letting this happen:

Having started the inning up 4-0, the Cardinals started the bottom of the inning down 6-4. After an Oscar Taveras sac fly and a Jhonny Peralta double, they would end it tied 6-6. A Peter Bourjos home run in the sixth brought it 7-6, but the Royals would get a run of Neshek in the eighth, and then get the winner off Trevor Rosenthal in the ninth.

Mike Matheny Double-Switch Watch:

Well, he did make one. And the player that came in the game would hit a home run! So theoretically it would have been an okay decision if we would have left Maness in another inning buuuuttttttt he didn't, so he could have just either replaced Jay with Bourjos or pinch hit with Bourjos.

Three Stars of the Game (by WPA)

1. Kolten Wong (.283) - Just 1-5, but a grand slam will do that.
2. Peter Bourjos (.147) - 1-2 with a home run
3. Sam Freeman (.144) - A clean 1.1 innings

Three ...not Stars of the Game (by WPA)

1. Jaime Garcia (-.488) - 5 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 3 SO, 0 BB
2. Trevor Rosenthal (-.316) - Giving up the losing run in the ninth isn't pretty on the ol' WPA
3. Yadier Molina (-.222) - Came up in a lot of big spots, but came up empty every time

Source: FanGraphs