*Photo from STL Sports Page*
There have been a lot of blog posts here about the St.Louis Cardinals recently. It's been all warranted however, and this is just a stamp on top of their incredible run so far. Dylan Carlson homered, Nolan Arenado homered, and the Cardinals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 on Tuesday night.
The win completes a miraculous run for the Cardinals, who have now won 17 straight games, and, as a result, have clinched a wild card spot in the NL. They will play either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants in the wild card game, whichever team comes in second place in the NL West. But, even if the Cardinals had lost this game, they would have clinched anyway, because both the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies lost their games on Tuesday. It's the 3rd straight playoff appearance for the Cardinals.
Arenado said of clinching a playoff spot that "To be able to go the playoffs is what it's all about. This team is unbelievable. We carry each other. I'm happy to be a part of it. This is why I'm here, to get a chance to play in the playoffs and to be able to do in my first year here is a great feeling."
In the top of the 4th inning, Luis Urias gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead by cranking a two run home run to left field. In the bottom half of the inning, a Carlson solo home run and a sac bunt that scored Tyler O'Neill tied the game 2-2. In the 5th, O'Neill singled into right center field, scoring Paul Goldschmidt to make it 3-2 Cardinals. He then scored on a sac fly to make it 4-2.
In the 6th inning, the lead became 5-2 Cardinals, when Jose Rondon lifted a solo home run to left field. One inning later, in the 7th, Arenado sealed the game, hitting a solo home run out to center field, all but putting the icing on the cake of a 6-2 victory, putting the Cardinals back into the playoffs after it looked like they were dead in the water in July.
Adam Wainwright improved to 17-7 this season by getting the win, throwing another vintage Wainwright performance. He allowed two runs on 7 hits and two walks, fanning 4 hitters across 6 innings pitched. TJ McFarland got a hold by throwing a scoreless 7th, followed by Luis Garcia working the 8th, and Giovanny Gallegos shutting it down in the 9th inning.
Wainwright said of clinching another playoff spot that "Well, it starts with perseverance. I mean, it starts there. We had to overcome probably the worst baseball I've ever seen a Cardinals team play. We just weren't doing anything right. It was just understanding that we're a better team than what we were showing and we could go out there and compete with anybody when we play right. And that's what we did."
Jandel Gustave got the loss for the Brewers, allowing two runs in one inning pitched, falling to a 1-1 record this season. Brandon Woodruff lasted just 4 innings in his start, allowing two runs on 7 hits while striking out 3 hitters in a no decision. Hoby Milner and Daniel Norris also pitched in relief for Milwaukee.
Woodruff said "They’re clicking on all cylinders, and they did it at the right time. But I don’t think anybody is thinking, ‘Hey, take it.’ I don’t think that’s the stance anybody is taking. We’re still trying to win ballgames. But yes, we are aware that we have won the division and the most important thing is we turn out to be healthy for the playoffs. That’s the No. 1 goal."
The Cardinals and Brewers continue their series on Wednesday night, with Adrian Houser toeing the rubber for Milwaukee, and Miles Mikolas starts for the Cardinals.
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