Game Recap - June 28 - Pallente and bullpen combine to shut out Reds, Cards eke out 1-0 win
06/29/2024 12:04 AM
The ultimate small ball - Cards win on Sacrifice Pop Out.
Top-line results
Andre Pallante takes a shutout into the sixth and 4 relievers carry that doughnut to the finish line. Cardinals single small-ball tally produces a rare 1-0 win.
Authors note: These articles now contain an auto-generated video summary of the game that is inserted at the top. Let me know in comments if you like this or hate it. I think I can remove it but will leave this one to see what people think of this new feature.
Pre-Game Notes
- This is game 81. At game 81 last year, the Cardinals had a ghastly 34-47 record, good for last place 10 game off the pace. This year, at 42-39, the Cardinals are in second place, 6.5 off the Brewers pace, but definitely in the wild card hunt. The runs scored are significantly down this year, runs allowed is about this same. How can they be 8 games better? Must be the manager.
- The Cardinals are playing at a pace right on most pre-season projections (~84 wins). How they are getting there is not so much in line with projections.
- Other than Nootbar, all the other injured players seem to be either out for the year or out indefinitely, with no expected time-table. At this point in the season, that might be the same thing.
Line-up (and roster machinations)
- From the Cardinals transaction wire, I can see that Gordon Graceffo has been added to the 40-man roster and called up to the MLB team, ostensibly to provide a fresh arm in the bullpen. Matz goes to 60-day IL to free up the 40-man slot and Leahy optioned to Memphis to free-up a spot on the active (26-man) roster.
- Nootbar begins a rehab assignment tonight at Springfield.
- The line-up has a few adjustments. Donovan leads off. Contreras up to 2 spot, Burly in 3 spot, Goldy at 4. Alternating RH and LH until the bottom. Carp at DH, Crawford at SS and Siani in CF bring up a left-leaning rear. Winn gets the night off.
- Montas for Reds, Pallante for Cardinals. I'm taking the over on runs for this game.
The Game
T1 - India opens up with a single. Cruz K's. Steer follows with a single. But Pallante induces a GIDP to quell the emergent rally.
B1 - Donovan K's. Contreras K's. Burly walks and then promptly gets picked off.
T2 - 5-3. Popout. K. Super quiet inning as Pallante has achieved 5 consecutive outs.
B2 - Goldy out 1-3. Gorman K. He is on pace for over 200 K's this year. That is a problem. Arenado bloop single. Carp HBP. But Crawford grounds out to end the inning.
T3 - Pallante starts with a K and 5-3 to make 7 consecutive outs. India breaks the string with a double, but Cruz bounces back to Pallante to end the inning.
B3 - Siani rips a double (104 mph) off the wall to lead off the inning. Donovan advances him to third with a GIDP. Contreras walks. Burly gets a SacPop for an RBI. Seriously, Burly popped out to Cruz at SS and Siani scored. A poor throw by Cruz advances Contreras to 2nd. Goldy out 6-3. Cards up 1-0.
T4 - Steer K's. Pallante has 4 K's (and 0 walks) in four innings. That ratio will change. Another K and a 5-3 make for another quiet inning. Pallante is moving right along.
B4 - Gorman 4-3. Arenado K's. Crawford lines out at 102 mph (his first out was 101). Tough luck for him tonight.
T5 - Espinal grounds out. Benson (a .191 hitter) walks, ending Pallante's walk-less streak at 4 innings. Fairchild singles. First and third. Fairchild steals 2nd. Maile pops out. India walks. Pallante feels evidently feels rushed to catch his walks up with his K's. Cruz bounces out 1-3. Cards still up 1-0.
B5 - Siani lines out (103 mph). Donovan out 1-3. Contreras out 6-3. We motor along.
T6 - Lead off HBP is auspicious. Followed by another walk. After an F7, Pallante is done. Fernandez in. Coaxes an F7 and a K to quell the threat. Pallante's final line is 5.2 innings, 0 R, 5 K, 3 BB and an HBP. Still 1-0.
B6 - Burleson F7. Goldy K. Gorman F8 (106 mph). That would have been out in 24 of 30 MLB parks.
T7 - Fernandez remains in. 6-3. K. 4-3. Nice job by the Rule 5 gem.
B7 - Arenado out 1-3. Carp pops out. Crawford 3u. Offense in a snooze.
T8 - Romero in to pitch. He starts off the with customary lead-off walk. I hate those! Then an F8. Followed by a missed bunt attempt (odd strategy) where they get Cruz picked off first, but after a length (and I mean length review ... 10 minutes???), they overturn the call on the field. Cruz steals 2nd. Romero induces an F7 for out two. That ends his night. Kittredge on to face Marte, who K's. Unbelievably, still 1-0.
B8 - Siani F7. Donovan singles. Contreras singles (110 mph!!). But Burly pops out and Goldy grounds out.
T9 - Helsley in. Pop out. K. Pop out. Six pitches gets the job done. I almost feel let down with the total zero stress inning. But I will overcome the feeling and take the win. Cards win 1-0 where each team managed a meager 4 hits.
Post-game notes (and random musings)
- When does the Jordan Walker watch begin? I'm figuring when his OPS at Memphis crosses .800.
- Tink Hence has pitched all of 3 innings this month, in two aborted starts about 2 weeks apart. What is the deal with him?
- Siani sits at about 77 wRC+. Is that enough offense to justify his defense? I've pondered. When Noot comes back, I hope they at least platoon Siani out against LH pitchers.
