Cardinals at Pirates July 3rd, 2024

07/03/2024 09:36 PM

The night started with me getting off work early and going for a walk just before 5pm. I hadn't eaten all day, and there is just SO MUCH GOING ON right now both in my own life and the world it is almost overwhelming. We live in some kind of limbo state, and I speak of my own household and you the reader.

The Cardinals were four games over .500, and just hit their first grand slam to get there for the first time. This team's offense is and will be propelled by younger, up and coming players. Miles Mikolas was on the mound, a pitcher who has been either really good or really bad it seems, but seems to be more in the middle since he leads the team in Quality Starts.

The Lizard King is that kind of pitcher, a west meets east meets west persona. Is that dualistic, or maybe more like that more uncommon triad ying yang thingy?

Jared Jones took the mound for the Pirates of Pittsburgh, where this game took place. At 1.3 fWAR, the Pirates starter was just better than Miles Mikolas going into the game. However, if we got Good Mikolas this game, we might just be in for a good game. Or better yet, maybe the Cardinals offense was waking up. It showed signs of life last night and last week before the Reds series.

The first two innings Good Mikolas appeared, but Bad Offense was in effect. Or maybe Jones was just dealing. Probably that. He ain't too bad at pitching. Burleson batting second in the lineup was up in the third. He battled to 2-2. He almost hit another one out in that at bat, to center, but it wasn't far enough. Contreras was up, and Jones looked to be getting a little sloppy, but on a 2-2 count at 52 pitches (53?) he got Contreras to pop out to center.

Mikolas had to get another three out with no runs, as the offense hadn't showed up yet. Mikolas was only at around 25 pitches to start this inning. After 11 pitches Mikolas reached two outs but McCutchen was at the plate. He might be old but I never trust the Cardinals to get him out. On pitch 41 he got Andrew to ground out to Winn. 0-0, Good Mikolas.

Mikolas was outpitching Jones and then Goldschmidt came to the plate to start out the 4th inning, and he hit a line drive single to the outfield. But it was erased by Brendan Donovan hitting into a double play. Lame! Arenado was up with two outs and made the Pirates left fielder work for a running catch, almost a hit but nope.

Mikolas was definitively dealing tonight, reaching fifty pitches with two outs in the 4th. Olivares was up, slider, sinker, slider, slider, sweeper, etc. He got the batter to ground out to shortstop.

Crawford was in on this game and the move paid off because he hit a double to right field to start out the fifth inning! Gorman was 0-1 and Jones was challenging him to get a hit, but also trying to get him to chase. It went to 2-2. Gorman flied out. Siani struck out. Would Winn bring Crawford home? It was zero zero. Quickly Winn was at 0-2. Jones 75th pitch was a ball, almost wild. 1-2. Foul off. Somehow he took a low pitch and guided it up the middle with some quick and precise handwork! I love this guy! 1-0 Cardinals.

The Pirates started out with a ringing single that was fairly hard hit to start their part of the fifth. Mikolas gave up a hit at 60 pitches, runnrs at second and third! This one was hit even though it was sinking low in the zone. The pirates seemed to be onto him but were still scoreless. Hayes a righty was up. Mikolas was losing control. 3-2. Pitch 66. It was a groundout which moved the runners up. Tie game! Mikolas was indeed losing control because he gave up a sac fly and another run. 2-1 Pirates.

The 6th inning saw Nicolas replace Jones so we had gotten into the Pirates bullpen. But Nicolas wasn't dealing hits to the Cardinals. They were passing on their cards dealt. Donovan took a walk though. Arenado had a chance to produce.

Unfortunately the ump who wasn't very good rung him up on a pitch that was outside of the zone!

Mikolas was allowed to go out and pitch the 6th, not a bad idea. It was moreso the offense's fault he wasn't ahead in this game. McCutchen was 0-2 on the night and decided to go ahead and remedy that and hit a double, since he hates the Cardinals.

Miles' 80th pitch would go to Reynolds, who sharply hit it to Winn off the ground, and was thrown out. 1 out, man on second. Pitch 85 and he went full count to Cruz. Sinai made a magnificent catch to limit any damage! The runner couldn't even advance. Two outs. And then right away Good Mikolas induced a groundout to end the inning!

Crawford lead off the 7th, but was retired. I think we may have saved him from retirement. But not that time. Gorman was 0 for 2 on the night, but struck out to continue his woes as if that grand slam never happened. Siani was retired, of course.

Gallegos was in for Mikolas. Tellez was up, 2-2 on the night. He went up to three for three because he hit a home run. 3-1 Pittsburgh. Did we want Gallegos back? I don't know. I'm not too confident about it.

He then went 3-0 and then walked a batter four pitches. I think his ship sailed a while ago but he's back. Hayes up and absolutely jacked a pitch from Gallegos. I was a big Gallegos fan at one point but it's been a while.

He was approached by the pitching coach with runners on first and second no outs. He was left in. He did strike out a guy.

Liberatore was brought in, and I kinda thought he was a starter now but who cares. He is much better than Gallegos at this point. 3-1 Pirates. Libby was looking good again. Keeping it at 3-1. Tonight both teams were very bad with runners in scoring position, and Liberatore was able to escape!

Well the good news is, even though the Pirates had an elite hold pitcher for the right, Holderman, Burleson was able to line a single high in the zone into the outfield for a single, and then Willson ming Contreras hit a home run! Tie game again! These are the moments that make me love baseball.

Goldschmidt stole a base which is kinda funny, since he does it sometimes now. There was a man on second with Arenado up, and I wasn't too thrilled. He just seems a bit lost. But he's fighting. Somehow Arenado worked the count to a full count, hit a foul ball, and was wearing down then pitcher Holderman who is good at holds probably usually.

But, Holderman kept it a tie game even though he didn't hold it.

Liberatore was out again and I am a fan nowadays. I was actually glad he was back but a rocker double was hit off him with one out. Runner moved to third on a groundout. The Cardinals escaped the inning unscathed! I think I missed something while closing out my tab.

Drinks at City Park Grill:

Civil Life Brown Ale

Modern Brewing Citrapolis

Prickly Jalapeno cocktail (amazing)

Maplewood Brewing Son Of Juice

All these four drinks come highly recommended!

Unfortunately this exhausted my bank account after a dinner at Cafe Mochi which was rather mediocre but filling and not bad.

Kittredge was in to pitch the ninth. Something happened right away that had him concerned about the very baseball he pitched with. The umps and Marmol were in on the discussion but I could not hear them at all. The Pirates manager was barking. Hayes who was 1 for three was up, one out. At this point I was a little upset that the Cardinals couldn't finish out the game before going into extras. Hayes hit a line drive to center field.

But, Kittredge persevered and got it into sudden death territory, at least that is what it feels like in this stupid Manfred bitten era of baseball.

Dylan Carlson was placed on base by the Man Fred and I can't stand it but here we are. 3-3. Chapman at it again. The Cardinals manufactured a run! 4-3. Sorry I'm kind of losing track of the end to this because I needed to be home by now but I can't miss the end of this game. In fact I am about to go for a walk before the end of this one, and my phone is losing its charge.

The guys were getting their timing down through rhythmic rituals like magicians I mean musicians do.

Goldschmidt was up, panning for gold. But he got fooled. Time to go for a walk and hope the Cardinals pitching could hold them.

...

Kittredge was left in to shut it on down. Taylor struck out, Mccutchen walked... Romero replaced Kittredge and allowed the game to be tied. Cruz singled and put the Pirates ahead to win the game against the cardinals bullpen!

Well damn, this is a series and tomorrow is gonna be epic for the fourth of July! Please be safe but fully independent and don't let tyrants keep you down! I had fun writing this and walking around humid summer St Louis. It could always be worse and maybe this will be our last real independence day for a while. It's all in your head nonetheless! Take care VEB, I love you. Rock on. We can and should win tomorrow, and the series. Don't let tonight's game get you down. Or get down, I don't care, just do it to some good music.