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Cardinals 2 Reds 1
Nolan Gorman lined a two-out RBI double off Lucas Sims in the 8th inning to break a scoreless tie and the Cardinals went on to beat the Reds 2-1 Thursday afternoon at GABP. The Cards tacked on what turned out to be a huge 8th inning insurance run when Gorman scored on a Sims wild pitch.
The Cards salvaged a split of the four game series. They did it without Paul Goldschmidt or Nolan Arenado in the lineup.
In the 9th, Spencer Steer doubled and scored on a Stuart Fairchild single to make it 2-1. But Luke Maile struck out as the winning run at the plate.
It was frustrating afternoon for the Reds offense. They were 1 for 8 w/ RISP and left 8 on base. One night after pounding out 18 hits and scoring 10 runs, the Reds offense was limited to 1 run on 7 hits.
Luke Weaver was outstanding: 6.1 IN 3 H 0 R 1 BB 6 K, 1 HBP...86 pitches/60 strikes. That's back-to-back quality starts by Reds pitchers.
The killer moments:
Part 1: With one out and runners on the corners in the 1st inning, Jake Fraley hit into a DP.
Part 2: Scoreless in the 6th with runners on 1st and 3rd with 0 outs ....Jonathan India hit into a fielder's choice with TJ Friedl out at the plate, Jake Fraley flew out, Tyler Stephenson grounded out.
Part 3: The Reds put two on with one out in the 8th with a Friedl 1B and McLain BB. But India popped up to 2B and Jake Fraley grounded into a fielder's choice.
Stranded: Fraley was 0 for 4. He hit into a DP with runners on the corners in the 1st....flew out with runners on 1st and 2nd in the 6th and bounced into a fielder's choice with runners on 1st and 2nd in 8th. He entered the team leader in RBI with 33. No. 3 batter India hit into a fielder's choice with runners on the corners in the 6th and popped out with runners on 1st and 2nd in the 8th.
Escape plan: Scoreless in the 7th, Weaver was done for the day when he hit Juan Yepez to put two on with one out. Sims entered and struck out Tommy Edman and Luke Maile picked off Yepez to extinguish the threat.
On base machine: Back in the lineup after Wednesday night off, TJ Friedl reached base four more times..2 1B, BB, E, SB.
Hit and run it! The Reds went 1st to 3rd on singles, twice.....India singled with Friedl on 1st in the 1st and McLain singled with Friedl on 1st in the 6th.
But the Reds didn't score either time.
Glove it! Fairchild made a leaping catch and slammed him into the RF wall in the 7th. It took extra bases away from Paul DeJong.
Never have liked the contact play: With runners on the corners and nobody out in the 6th, Friedl was going on contact from 3rd on India grounder to 3B.
He was cut down.
Eight is great: Spencer Steer singled and doubled to extend his career-high hitting streak to 8 games.
Next: Two city, six game road trip starting Friday vs the Cubs at Wrigley. Hunter Greene vs Justin Steele, 2:20.