St. Louis Cardinals Get Their First Win in 2016
The Cardinals are lifted by a career first.
Despite giving up four early runs, the Saint Louis Cardinals were able to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-4. This was largely possible thanks to four home runs on the day, including a first career home runs for Aledmys Diaz. The game started off poorly for the Cardinals, as Jaime Garcia gave up four runs in the bottom of the third. The Braves scored three of their four runs with two outs: Braves right fielder Nick Markakis singled with two outs, and kicked off a series of events that would bring him home before the inning’s end.
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The Cardinals were able to immediately respond with a three-run fourth. Relying on small ball and a wild pitch by Braves starter Matt Wisler, the Cardinals were able to bring the game within one run. Wisler would be chased in the top of the seventh by Jeremy Hazelbaker. The 28-year old, pinch hitting for Jaime Garcia, hit a home run to right center field, tying the game at 4-4.
And then the Cardinals would tee off on the Braves’ bullpen. Eric O’Flaherty came in for the Braves in the eighth inning, and Aledmys Diaz wasted no time in hitting a home run, his career first. That was enough to bring O’Flaherty’s time on the mound to an end. The Cardinals were unable to get the offense going for the rest of the inning, and the eighth ended unceremoniously after Kolten Wong was picked off trying to steal second.
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That malaise would not continue into the ninth. John Gant would come on to close it out for the Braves…and the Cardinals would do to him what they did to O’Flaherty. This time was Greg Garcia and Stephen Piscotty providing the power with a pair of solo homers. Trevor Rosenthal came on in the ninth inning to pick up the save for the Cardinals and finish off the Braves.
The Cardinals will play the Braves on Saturday at 6:10 PM and on Sunday at 12:35 PM.