Cardinals Slog Through Series Victory Against Dbacks

The Cardinals traveled south to face the Diamondbacks and it was a slog. Not the fun kind of slog like the first Star Trek movie. No, this was a series in the trenches, four tight, low scoring games. Jim's team battled tough enough to win one game in a walk-off and lose two other 12-inning tussles.

The word is slog.

GAME 1

Cards 4

D-Backs 1

WP: Imanaga

LP: Grove

S; Iglacias

The Goings On. This one was a Cardinals text book win — Good starting pitching for six, great bullpen work and juuuuust enough offense to win. Jake Cronenworth's two run homer broke 11 tie in the fourth. Yellich scored on a wild pitch and the Cardinals got a profunctory win. Imanaga was great over six. Robertson, Walker and Iglacias were great. Easy Peasy.

GAME 2

D-Backs 3

Cardinals 2

WP: Avila

LP: Robertson

The Goings on: I had this one. I really did. Same kind of game as the first. William Contreras homered in he first and singled home a run in the 5^th and I thought that would be enough. It was not. In the eighth, I went with Miller rather than Robertson in the 8^th -- and he gave up two runs. THEN I went to Robertson in the bottom of the ninth and he plunked Moreno with two outs and the bases loaded to end it. Ick.

GAME 3

Cardinals 5

D-Backs 3

WP: Robertson

LP: Bednar

The Goings On: Another dull toothache of a game. Arizona touched Irvin for three runs in the first, but the Cards came back with runs in the first fourth and sixth to tie it. The cardinals loaded the bases in the 10^th with one out, but Ozuna bounced into a 5-2-3 double play to end the threat. In the 12th, Yelich doubled home two runs with two outs to give us the lead we would hold. After scoring three runs early, the D-Backs had just five baserunners over the next 11 innings.

GAME 4

Cardinals 8

Diamondbacks 5

WP: Iglecias

LP: Minter

S: Nelson

The Goings On: Looked a lot like a split. St. Louis took a 2-0 lead only to lose the lead via a Charlie Blackmon homer. Jim's team took the lead in the seventh on a two run double by sanchez. Meanwhile the cards bounced into four double plays. In the top of the ninth, Jim put in Bednar. Cronenworth singled in a run and bader tied things with a sac fly. The tie held until the 12^th against AJ minter. Bader and Freeman homered in what would be a four-run inning which sank the snakes hopes.

These were four tight games — lots of bullpen work. Lots of managing. I think my pen is a touch better and that was the difference in the series.

William and Wilson Contreas are the brother combo the Cardinals have needed to help pave the way to the playoffs.