Cards Take Game 1 of Double Feature, 9-1

The Redbirds got slated for a doubleheader with the Braves on Sunday after getting rained out on Saturday night. Adam Wainwright went the distance in game one, throwing seven solid innings of one-run ball with eleven strikeouts as the Cardinals cruised to a win. Bryse Wilson started for the Braves and was tagged for five runs over four innings. The Braves’ bullpen didn’t fare much better, giving up an additional four runs as the Cards cruised to a 9-1 victory behind homers from Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt.

1st Inning

Tommy Edman started Sunday’s action with a base hit to right field. Dylan Carlson flew a fastball to center for the first out. Edman stole second on the first pitch to Paul Goldschmidt, who flew out to the warning track in center. Nolan Arenado, with Edman still at second as he failed to tag up on the deep fly ball, sent a screamer over the fence in left field for a two-run home run and a 2-0 Cardinals lead. Tyler O’Neill struck out swinging through a 1-2 fastball to end the top half of the frame.

Ronald Acuna, Jr. slapped a curveball to short for the first out in the bottom of the inning. Freddie Freeman struck out waving at a low 3-2 cutter. Ozzie Albies chopped a cutter to first for the last out of a nine-pitch inning for Wainwright.

2nd Inning

Yadier Molina grounded out to third to begin the second. Edmundo Sosa struck out swinging at a 1-2 fastball in the zone and Paul DeJong flew out to right to put the Cards down in order.

Abraham Almonte walked on a 3-2 curveball that missed the zone badly but was thrown out trying to steal second by Molina who made the throw from his knees.

Austin Riley then lined out to right field after working a full count. Dansby Swanson struck out on three pitches to end the inning, swinging through a fastball.

3rd Inning

Wainwright grounded out on a first-pitch fastball. Edman was retired with a swinging strikeout on an 0-2 changeup. Carlson slapped a base hit to left field to extend the inning to Goldschmidt, who chopped a ball to third. Riley made a great diving stop but his throw was wide, allowing both runners to move to second and third. Arenado popped a changeup to center to strand both runners.

William Contreras grounded out to second to kick off the Braves’ half of the inning. Ender Inciarte drew a one-out walk on a 3-2 fastball that missed inside. Wilson struck out trying to bunt the runner over to second. Acuna swung over a 2-2 curveball for the final out of the third.

4th Inning

O’Neill smoked a changeup down the left field line for a leadoff double. Yadi then ripped a first-pitch fastball back up the middle for an RBI single, stretching the Cards’ lead to 3-0.

Sosa struck out chasing an outside fastball. DeJong smoked another cutter to center, but right at Inciarte for the second out. Wainwright flew out to right to send the game to the bottom of the frame.

Freeman lined a fastball to right for the Braves’ first hit of the game. Albies followed with a single to right, placing runners at the corners with no outs. The Braves then put on a double steal and the throw to second ate up DeJong, allowing Freeman to score uncontested, closing the deficit to 3-1.

Almonte struck out during the steal attempt, bringing in Riley with a runner on second and one away. Riley struck out looking, frozen by a front door curveball from Wainwright. Swanson grounded out to Arenado to strand Albies at second.

5th Inning

Edman dropped a beauty of a bunt against the shift for a leadoff base hit. Carlson doubled off the wall in right-center, putting runners on second and third with no outs for Goldschmidt. The Braves then went to the bullpen, bringing in Josh Tomlin to try to work out of the jam. Goldschmidt welcomed him with a three-run homer on a first-pitch cutter, extending the lead to 6-1 for St. Louis.

Arenado followed the home run with a double on a first-pitch curveball. O’Neill struck out looking at a fastball that was well off the plate. Yadi flew out to deep right, allowing Arenado to tag up and move to third. Sosa got under a cutter, flying out to left to end the Cards’ half of the frame.

Contreras was completely fooled by an 0-2 curveball, swinging out in front of it for the first out. Inciarte got on top of another curveball, chopping it to first for the second out. Ehire Adrianza pinch-hit for Tomlin and blooped a double into left as O’Neill couldn’t quite come up with the diving catch. Acuna struck out staring at a 1-2 curveball to send the game to the sixth.

6th Inning

Sean Newcomb replaced Tomlin to pitch the sixth for the Braves. DeJong grounded out to third to start the inning. Wainwright drew a five-pitch walk. Edman recorded another infield hit on a swinging bunt to the left side. Carlson drew another walk, loading the bases for Goldschmidt, who ripped a single to left for his fourth RBI and a 7-1 lead for the Cards.

Arenado, with the bases still loaded, drew yet another walk, bringing Edman home to make it 8-1. O’Neill followed with a flyout to the warning track in right which allowed the runners to tag, giving Molina runners at the corners with two away and a 9-1 lead. Yadi popped out to center for the last out.

Freeman struck out looking to start the bottom of the inning. Albies chased a curveball low and away for the second out. Almonte struck out looking at a fastball that may have been a little high but was close enough for strike three.

7th Inning

Tyler Matzek pitched the seventh for the Braves and retired Sosa on a lineout to shortstop. DeJong struck out swinging over a slider for the second out. Wainwright grounded out to third to send the game to the bottom of the frame.

Riley grounded out to third on a nice play by Arenado, who made the throw while going to his right. Swanson ripped a 105 mph liner into the gap at short but was robbed by Sosa on a phenomenal diving catch. Contreras worked the count full and drew a walk to extend the game. Inciarte barrelled a ball into right-center, where Carlson ran it down for the last out of the game, bringing the 9-1 score to a final in favor of St. Louis.

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The Cards improve to 36-35 with the win as the Braves fall to 32-36. The Cards and Braves play game two of the doubleheader Sunday evening at 6:08 PM CT, with Kwang Hyun Kim facing off against Drew Smyly.

Waino/Yadi Battery Tracker

Sunday’s start gives Wainwright and Molina 287 appearances as a battery. They have a ways to go yet to claim third place all-time, as the combination of Red Faber and Ray Schalk (Chicago White Sox, 1914-1926) sit at 306 appearances together.

Final Pitching Lines

Cardinals

Wainwright (W, 5-5): 7 IP / 3 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 3 BB / 11 K / 0 HR

Braves

Wilson (L, 2-3): 4 IP / 8 H / 5 R / 5 ER / 0 BB / 4 K / 1 HR

Tomlin: 1 IP / 2 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 0 BB / 1 K / 1 HR

Newcomb: 1 IP / 2 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 3 BB / 0 K / 0 HR

Matzek: 1 IP / 0 H / 0 R / 0 ER / 0 BB / 1 K / 0 HR