Cardinals at Pirates July 23rd, 2024
07/23/2024 09:46 PM
The Cardinals go 19-14 in one run games
Tuesday July 23rd, 2024
The Cardinals edge out the Pirates and avenge last night's mirrored one run loss. The Cardinals pitching held down the Pirates' lackluster offense with a stellar Lance Lynn drenched in sweat pitching performance. This pivotal second game was a pretty substantial one game test, since it held back the Pirates from tying us, placing them two games back from the Cardinals and ensuring that they cannot catch up even with a series win.
Rookie phenom Skenes was on the mound tonight and sliced through the Cardinals lineup like buttah for 4 innings except for a lone Nolan Gorman single in the third inning. Luckily Lance Lynn brought his A game and had the Pirates lineup under control for the most part and no runs were scored.
Nolan Arenado hit a laser home run and made the pitcher's duel a 1 run game. Lance Lynn struggled in the fifth, mightily... walking 2 batters, throwing a wild pitch, and started it off by giving up a double. But somehow he persevered and was able to retire the Pirates without any damage!
Skenes continued to cruise through the barely functioning lately Cardinals lineup through the 9th inning. Eventually he was relieved in the 9th after giving up a double to Siani (!?) and then a run scoring single to master Burly who has become our most reliable run producer. With that Alec Burleson RBI it was 2-1 and enough for the win...
Rewind
But what of Lance Lynn after the 5th? Such a struggle would surely mean something... Actually that was it for Lynn which was the right move. King was brought in and he did his thing, surprising us all with his usual effectiveness. Eventually Kittredge was summoned and he also was sending the Jolly Roger to its watery grave.
It was Romero in the 8th who kept it interesting in a bad way, but giving up a run! Cruz doubled and Gonzalez drove him in which tied the game at the time. Making Burleson's big RBI in the top of the 9th oh so important, avoiding extra inning nonsense.
Notes
- Helsley closed out the game for his 32nd save! At 2.30 ERA and 2.68 FIP
- Lance Lynn is now a member of the 2,000+ strikeout club! There are only 89 players. Anyone know who will be #90?
- The Cardinals have three hitters over .200 ISO
- Sonny Gray's K rate is over 30%
- Helsley has tied Mikolas in fWAR
Tune in tomorrow for an early 11:35AM start time! I'm not sure who the Cardinals will have on the mound but the Pirates pitcher might be able to summon the Cardinals offense from the dead!
