Nolan Arenado made a significant impact in the late innings of the game, hitting a pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth that secured a 2-1 victory for the St. Louis Cardinals over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The game showcased the Cardinals’ resilience as they contained the formidable Dodgers offense for the second consecutive game.
In a dramatic ninth inning, Nolan Gorman initiated the rally with a ground-rule double. Following this, Pedro Pages reached base after an error by Dodgers pitcher Ben Casparius, creating a crucial opportunity for Arenado. With the Dodgers shifting their defense to load the infield with five players, Arenado’s fly ball, which just skimmed the foul line, turned into another ground-rule double, bringing home the go-ahead run.
Despite their offensive prowess leading the majors in key statistics, including runs scored and home runs, the Dodgers were stifled in the early part of this series, managing to go scoreless for the first 17 innings. They managed to tie the game briefly when Shohei Ohtani scored on a wild pitch by Ryan Helsley in the ninth, but it was not enough.
Earlier in the game, the Cardinals broke the scoring deadlock in the eighth inning when Masyn Winn crossed the plate on an infield single from Alec Burleson, marking a turning point in the match.
Pitching was stellar on both sides, with Erick Fedde dominating for the Cardinals, giving up only four singles and striking out two across 5 1/3 scoreless innings. On the other hand, Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto was equally effective, striking out nine batters over six scoreless frames.
A notable moment came in the seventh inning when, despite suffering a line drive to his forearm from Mookie Betts, Steven Matz managed to secure an inning-ending double play against NL batting leader Freddie Freeman, keeping the game scoreless at a critical juncture.
The series has demonstrated the Cardinals’ ability to overcome challenges, as they have not seen the Dodgers shut out in consecutive games since early 2018.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals are set to call up right-handed pitcher Michael McGreevy for his second start of the season, who previously delivered an impressive outing against the Mets. He will face veteran Clayton Kershaw in what promises to be another exciting matchup.
This series illustrates the unpredictability and competitiveness of MLB, signaling that the Cardinals could make a significant push as the season progresses.