Pirates Clip Cardinals’ Wings, Team Falls 2-0

Today’s lineup:

1st inning, top: Miles Mikolas works out of a bases loaded jam. 31 pitch inning, though. Eek.

1st inning, bottom: After a Matt Carpenter walk (I think I have begun more recap sentences with that phrase than any other), Yadier Molina smoked a ball into center. The words “Even Yadi should be able to make this into a double” and I immediately regretted my rash words. Luckily, I was correct, but Yadi chugged into second just as the ball reached the base. Both Yadi and Carp would be stranded after a K/flyout-that-couldn’t-be-advanced-on/K combo.

2nd inning, top: Much better - 3 Ks, 11 pitches.

3rd inning, bottom: Matt Carpenter strides into the batter’s box and lays a small egg. From the egg hatches a beautiful peacock, resplendent in glory. The peacock also walks.

4th inning, top: Matt Carpenter is lifted from the game - on the broadcast, Dan McLaughlin reveals that he’s having stomach issues and horked on first base. I’m sure Matt Adams, entering the game, was a little reluctant to have to tromp around in Carpenter’s spew, but thus is the curse of the bench player: to enter the game in high (stomach) pressure situations.

5th inning, top: Jordy Mercer doubles and Starling Marte brings him home with a broken bat single. Two more consecutive hit by Adam Frazier and Gregory Polanco would extend the Pirates lead to 2-0.

6th inning, bottom: Matt Adams breaks a 0 for 27 skid with a single. The team also gets the ball back for him, which is a bit odd but totally harmless, I suppose.

7th inning, bottom: Harrison Bader legs out an infield single. Yairo Munoz take a painful-looking pitch to the below and everyone holds their breath for a second hoping that we don’t have ANOTHER injury. The Cardinals strand 2 on again.

8th inning, top: DeJong helps out Cecil with a slick play for the first out, Munoz throws wide to Adams and the ball skips away allowing a Pittsburgher to reach second, Cecil gets Josh Bell and Moran for outs 2 and 3. Cecil looked good this outing. His resurgence is definitely a positive for the team.

8th inning, bottom: With 1 out Jose Martinez lined a single up the middle before Tyler O’Neill struck out looking and DeJong flew out to Polanco in RF.

9th inning, top: With Carlos Martinez pitching, DeJong made a great running play to snag a liner up the middle for the first out. Carlos got the next two outs, the final on a long one to Bader on the track. Carlos gave up some hard contact this inning but nothing came of it.

9th inning, bottom: Munoz hit a 2 out double in the gap, but Adolis Garcia grounded out to short to end the game. Cards lose, 2-0.

The Cardinals had a few opportunities to score during this game, but the Pirates starter wiggled out of a couple of jams and they were not able to drive anyone in. Tomorrow is the rubber game at 6:15 CST.