By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today
Just two innings after watching rookie Stephen Piscotty taken off the field on a stretcher following a violent collision with Peter Bourjos in the outfield, the Cardinals bats came to life, as the team scored three runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Pirates 3-0 and bring themselves on the brink of their third consecutive NL Central pennant.
[Monday’s Top News: Yadier Molina ruled out for remainder of regular season, Wainwright goes through sim game and fielding drills, could activated as soon as Tuesday]
Starters Lance Lynn and J.A. Happ kept the series opener in Pittsburgh scoreless in the early innings in very differing ways. While Happ allowed just one Cardinals baserunner in his six innings of work, Lynn worked his way into and out of trouble, walking four and allowing four baserunners over five laborious frames.
Lynn was aided by a stellar throw from center fielder Jason Heyward, who nailed Starling Marte at the plate tagging up on a fly ball to left center in the second inning. Heyward also made a nice diving catch on a sinking liner in the seventh inning with two runners aboard for Pittsburgh.
With playoff implications on the line, the environment at PNC Park was a loud and energetic one. That is, at least until Stephen Piscotty fell to the ground motionless after colliding with Peter Bourjos as the two cased after a Josh Harrison fly ball in the seventh inning. The stadium grew silent as Cardinals medical personal rushed out to left-center field, where Piscotty was unconscious after being hit in the head by Bourjos’ knee.
Piscotty was placed on a stretcher and taken off the field on a cart before being transported to a local hospital for tests.
[Related: All scans come back negative on Stephen Piscotty after scary outfield collision]
The scene was jarring for many of the Cardinals players on the field at the time, including Matt Carpenter, who squatted near the infield running his hands through his hair and medical personal tending to Piscotty.
“I thought he was paralyzed,” Carpenter told MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch.
Amazingly, Piscotty passed all tests at the hospital, but remained overnight for further observation. Mike Matheny said the update on Piscotty was “as good an initial response as we could get.”
Read more about Piscotty’s injury and the latest on his condition here.
Two innings later, Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco misplayed a Jon Jay single, allowing Matt Carpenter to score the first run of the game. Mark Reynolds, the next batter, hit a two-run home run to center field to tack on some insurance runs and give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
Trevor Rosenthal made things interesting in the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate, before closing out the redbirds’ win and collecting his 48th save of the year– a new single season franchise record.
The victory brings the Cardinals’ record to 99-58 and lowers the club’s magic number to just two. The team can now clinch the National League Central Division with a win in one of the next two games in Pittsburgh.
The redbirds will send Michael Wacha (17-6, 3.15 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night in search of his 18th win. The Pirates will counter with Charlie Morton (9-8, 4.54 ERA). First pitch is slated for 6:05pm CT on Fox Sports Midwest and the Cardinals Radio Network.
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Trevor Rosenthal picks up save No. 48 and a new @Cardinals franchise record in Pittsburgh. #STLCardshttps://t.co/DcDmmtxxDP
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) September 29, 2015
Video: Trevor Rosenthal discusses becoming the Cardinals all-time single season saves leader (via @FSMidwest)
Feature image used under Creative Commons by Keith Allison. No changes made. Image License.
