Cards Fly Past Nova, Bullpen in 8-4 Win

The Redbirds opened with a double and walk off Ivan Nova, but helped by a couple of nice plays by Freeser and Fraze, he escaped unscathed. Austin Gomber fanned two of the first three Buccos. Kolten Wong, fresh off the DL, doubled with an out in the second. A Harrison Bader single got another Card thrown out at home (their third in 10 innings), initiated by Gregory and ending up a 9-2-6-2 scorecard entry (Polanco threw home, Diaz relayed to Mercer to challenge Bader after a wide turn to start a rundown and Mercer went back home to get Wong) and so nada for El Birdos. Freeser considered to pound the opp field by dropping a 3-1 heater over the Clemente Wall. Cervy walked and J-Hay hit a ground rule double. Jordy was walked intentionally to load 'em with an out, then Gomber came back to K Nova and Fraze; lots of bullet-dodging both ways early on. SL led off with a walk and a knock. Ivan struck out a pair and had two strikes on Jose Martinez, but the late minute injury sub hung tough and doubled in a run. Jedd Gyorko's two-bagger sent two more Cards home before the third out. It took 12 pitches to tuck the Bucs away.

Cervy had two hits while playing first flawlessly (photo Players Tribune)

A Bader double and Yadi single made it 4-1 in the fourth. The Pirates started with consecutive raps to occupy the corners; J-Hay bounced into a DP; Cervy oddly stood on third and watched it while in the classic contact play situation. No diff, tho, as Jordy singled home Amore and Joey O followed with another. Fraze doubled them both home and it was tied up. The busy bullpen sent out Alex McRae for the fifth. Consecutive doubles, a single and bouncer gave the Looies a two-run response. Dakota Hudson toed the rubber and cruised through the Pirates. McRae loaded the bases via free passes in the sixth; a two-out infield single plated another Card. Hudson sailed through another frame, helped by Clint's decision to allow McRae to bat. The Birds got a two-down knock in the seventh but no more markers. It was another 1-2-3 for the Bucs. Dovy Neverauskas was waved in for the eighth after McRae walked the first batter and shut the door. Mike Meyers gave up a rap to Cervy to end the out streak at 11. J-Hay walked with two gone before a bouncer finished the frame. Matt Carpenter homered with two outs in the ninth. Bud Norris nailed it shut.

Maybe the Bucs ought to consider someone to replace Ty Glasnow as a long man, or perhaps Clint might consider working one of his five back-enders a little earlier. Either move might have kept the game competitive. Anyway, tomorrow's the rubber match with Trevor Williams and Jack Flaherty contesting the series-winner.

Notes:

• Cervy had two hits; Jay-Hay & Jordy had a knock and a walk.
• It took Ivan Nova and Alex McRae 170 pitches to work seven frames, with seven free passes between them. As for Dovy, he's made 14 appearances this year and been scored on in 10 of them with an ERA of 11.15.
• The Cardinal batters didn't put up a 1-2-3 inning during the game.
• 32,473 Bucco boosters were at the yard tonight. The fans got a free fireworks show during the game thanks to the Three Rivers Regatta party.
• After being battered in his first two outings at Indy, Michael Feliz earned a save tonight by tossing a one-hit ninth.
• Andy Van Slyke signed autographs before the game - it was his bobblehead night - and then threw out the first pitch. It was fitting as he played for both clubs during his career, starting with St. Louis in 1983 before joining the Bucs.