Redbirds make history with 8th consecutive victory
They just won’t stop winning.
The Cardinals pulled out another come-from-behind victory over the Cubs on Tuesday — a 7-4 win—, becoming the first team in major league baseball to get to 20 wins as they collected their eighth consecutive victory and brought their overall record to 20-5, the best ever for the franchise to start a season. The club climbed out from a three run deficit to knock the second-place Cubs to 6 1/2 games back in the NL Central and become the first in baseball to win 20 of their first 26 games since the New York Yankees did so back in 2003.
After the Cubs tied the game in the third on an unearned run off spot starter Tyler Lyons, they added three more runs in the fifth before third baseman Matt Carpenter hit a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning. The redbirds would go on to add three more runs off the Chicago bullpen.
Navy Lieutenant Mitch Harris, who has not yet been scored upon in the big-leagues, picked up his first career victory after tossing a scoreless inning following Lyons and reliever Seth Maness.
Full game recaps: MLB.com, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, STL Sports Page
Fun Fact of the Day: Via MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch and Carrie Muskat:
With an announced attendance of 41,613 at Busch Stadium on Tuesday, the Cardinals have now had 40,000-plus fans for 100 consecutive games. That streak dates back to Sept. 25, 2013.
More game notes & quotes:
#STLCards are now 13-2 at Busch Stadium this season — having lost the home opener & the first game of this homestand (4/27)
— KMOXSports (@KMOXSports) May 6, 2015
Reynolds, half-joking, says he grew sick of watching #STLCards in October. Happy to be on the other side now.
— Stan McNeal (@stanmcneal) May 6, 2015
Reynolds calls @MattCarp13 one of “best hitters I’ve ever played with.” Even says Carpenter’s work ethic has rubbed off some on him. — Stan McNeal (@stanmcneal) May 6, 2015
Mitch Harris, first Naval grad to win a game in big leagues, says he’ll find a nice spot at home for the keepsake game ball. #STLCards — Stan McNeal (@stanmcneal) May 6, 2015
Socolovich says he’s same pitcher he’s always been. One difference: No.4’s calling pitches. “I throw my pitches with confidence.” #STLCards
— Stan McNeal (@stanmcneal) May 6, 2015
Via MLB.com:
“I know that my story is a little different, but I don’t want to be any more different than anybody else. To me, it’s just like [it would be] for anybody else. It’s my first win, and I’m excited. We’ll celebrate later on when we do bigger things.” — Cardinals reliever Mitch Harris, on becoming the first graduate of the United States Naval Academy to win a Major League game.
Next up: Southpaw Jon Lester (1-2, 4.71 ERA) will made his second career start at Busch Stadium on Wednesday, opposed by Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn (1-2, 3.07 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm CT.
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Walden (biceps inflammation) to get second opinion on MRI
Per reports from Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch and Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, setup man Jordan Walden, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list with right biceps inflammation, will get a second opinion on his MRIs this week to determine the next step in his rehab process. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak did acknowledge a level of concern on Tuesday.
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Marco Gonzales to start Saturday for AAA Memphis in recovery from left pectoral injury
As Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports, John Mozeliak told reporters on Tuesday that lefty Marco Gonzales is scheduled to return to the AAA Memphis rotation on Saturday (5/9). The 23-year-old has been sidelined since April 22 with a sore left pectoral muscle. Gonzales is widely expected to take Adam Wainwright’s spot in the Cardinals rotation once he’s ready, which could come some time next week if his start this weekend goes well. However, Mozeliak wouldn’t put a timeline on Gonzales’ potential big-league season debut when discussing it with Luke Thompson of Fox Sports Midwest:
“We just want to be smart,” said Mozeliak, who hasn’t put a timeline on when either pitcher would be available for a start in St. Louis. “He’s young. He’s someone that we think has a bright future so there’s no reason to push it.”
Gonzales is 4-2 with a 4.15 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 34.2 innings at Memphis so far this season.
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Garcia could begin rehab assignment Sunday
After making it through another extended spring training game on Tuesday without issue, southpaw Jaime Garcia could begin a minor league rehab assignment on Sunday, John Mozeliak told Jim Hayes of Fox Sports Midwest on Tuesday. It would likely be a while before Garcia could join the big-league club, and as of now it looks like Marco Gonzales will likely snag the fifth spot in the big-league roster once he proves his health at AAA Memphis.
Carpenter image used under Creative Commons from Keith Allison. Image cropped. Image licence.
