Arenado’s Blast Gives Cardinals a Saturday Night Win

The Cardinals continued their three-game set with the Reds on Saturday, with Miles Mikolas starting across from Luis Castillo. Mikolas got tagged for four runs in the third, giving up a two-run home run each to Jonathan India and Nick Castellanos. Castillo went seven innings but gave up four runs as well. The Cards’ bullpen held strong, and the difference in the game from a two-run shot by Nolan Arenado in the eighth, which completed the Cardinals’ comeback from four runs down to snatch a 6-4 victory.

1st Inning

Jonathan India popped a 1-1 slider to center for the first out of the game. Max Schrock grounded out to first on a first-pitch changeup. Nick Castellanos chopped out to third to put the Reds down in order in the first.

Tommy Edman skied a sinker to the wall in left for out number one. Paul Goldschmidt drew a walk on five pitches. Tyler O’Neill chopped a sinker to second to start an inning-ending 4-3 double play.

2nd Inning

Joey Votto drew a leadoff walk but was erased when Tyler Naquin grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. Mike Moustakas topped a fastball to second for the last out.

Nolan Arenado opened the bottom of the frame with a groundout to third. Dylan Carlson followed with a groundout to first. Molina rolled a changeup to third, sitting the Cards down quietly.

3rd Inning

Jose Barrero jumped on a first-pitch slider, grounding it to third for out number one. Tucker Barnhart drove a sinker through the left side for a single, and Castillo sacrificed him to second. India then got a slider in the middle of the plate and drove it to the lawn in center, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead.

Schrock then singled, setting up Castellanos for another two-run homer that put the Reds up 4-0.

Votto followed the second home run of the inning with a loud flyout to center that Bader ran down for the final out.

Paul DeJong got a 1-1 sinker low and inside and belted it to center for a homer, closing the Cards’ deficit to 4-1.

Bader followed with a double down the right field line. Mikolas then bunted Bader to third. Edman cashed in on the sacrifice, singling to right to bring the score to 4-2.

Goldschmidt then grounded into a double play that was initiated by an exceptionally smooth play from India.

4th Inning

Naquin began the fourth with a flyout to left. Moustakas grounded a curveball back up the middle for a single but was left on first after Barrero flew out to center and Barnhart flew out to right.

O’Neill struck out swinging over a changeup at the knees to open the bottom of the inning. Arenado grounded to third. Carlson worked a full count but chased a changeup in the dirt to put the Cards down in order.

5th Inning

Castillo led off the fifth and chased a slider in the dirt for a strikeout. India singled on a sinker left up in the zone. Schrock then flew out to center and Castellanos rolled into a fielder’s choice for the last two outs.

Yadi topped a changeup and grounded it to third for the first out. DeJong and Bader both singled after working full counts. Matt Carpenter then pinch hit for Mikolas and grounded into what ended up being scored as a 3-6-1 double play after Bader was called out on slide interference.

6th Inning

Genesis Cabrera replaced Mikolas on the bump and retired Votto with a flyout to left. Naquin followed suit, skying a fastball to left himself. Moustakas grounded out to second to retire the Reds in order.

Edman flew out to Schrock in left, who laid out to make a great diving catch.

Goldschmidt struck out swinging on three pitches. O’Neill extended the inning, reaching on an infield single. Arenado got a changeup at the knees and tattooed it to the corner in left, where Schrock misplayed the ball. Arenado ended up on third with an RBI triple, closing the score again to 4-3.

Carlson blooped a fastball to shallow center, where Barrero and Naquin collided hard trying to make the play. Arenado scored to tie the game at 4-4 and Naquin was pulled from the game for Shogo Akiyama after getting injured in the collision.

Yadi then closed the inning with a groundout to third.

7th Inning

Barrero struck out chasing a curveball in the dirt to open the seventh. Barnhart grounded out to first. Castillo then rolled a fastball to short for the last out.

DeJong grounded out on a 2-2 sinker to short. Bader struck out swinging through a sinker in on the hands. Lars Nootbaar pinch hit for Cabrera and struck out swinging over a 3-2 changeup to end the frame.

8th Inning

Alex Reyes got the call to pitch the eighth for the Cards and got India with a flyout to right. Schrock struck out swinging over a 1-2 changeup. Castellanos walked but was stranded when Votto flew out to center.

Lucas Sims relieved Castillo in the bottom of the eighth and struck Edman out on a 3-2 curveball. Goldschmidt followed with a double. O’Neill grounded out softly to first, moving Goldschmidt to third. Arenado then got a 1-0 slider on the outside corner and pulled it into the seats in left for a two-run homer, putting the Cards on top 6-4. Carlson then singled but was stranded on first after Yadi struck out swinging on three pitches.

9th Inning

Giovanny Gallegos got the call for the save and slammed the door, striking out both pinch hitter Tyler Stephenson and Moustakas and retiring Asdrubal Cabrera on a groundout to short to secure the 6-4 comeback win for the Redbirds.

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The Cardinals improve to 72-69 on the season and now sit 2 GB of both the Padres and the Reds, who are tied for the second Wild Card spot. The Reds and Cardinals play the finale of the series Sunday afternoon at 1:15 PM CT, with the Reds’ Sonny Gray facing off against J.A. Happ.

Final Pitching Lines

Cardinals

Mikolas: 5 IP / 6 H / 4 R / 4 ER / 1 BB / 1 K / 2 HR

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

Reyes (W, 7-8): 1 IP / 0 H / 0 R / 0 ER / 1 BB / 1 K / 0 HR

Gallegos (S, 7): 1 IP / 0 H / 0 R / 0 ER / 0 BB / 2 K / 0 HR

Reds

Castillo: 7 IP / 8 H / 4 R / 4 ER / 1 BB / 5 K / 1 HR

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