It really should have been expected when you think about it. There was a lack of energy in the stands at Busch Stadium Sunday afternoon as Michael McGreevy through the first pitch for the matinee game against the Chicago White Sox. After Saturday’s emotional induction of Pujols, Molina and Sherder into the Cardinals Hall of Fame, Sunday’s game was anti-climatic at least at the start. Alec Burleson would have something to say about that later, though.
The Chicago White Sox did not take long before they jumped out to an advantage. In the top of the 2nd inning, Benitendi reached with a one-out single. Peters then doubled which gave the White Sox runners at second and third with just one out. Chase Meidroth lifted a sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 Chicago lead. Fortunately, McGreevy got Colson Montgomery to ground out without allowing any more runs.
While Michael McGreevy was pitching a fine game, his counterpart David Sandlin was even better for the White Sox for the first half of the game. Through the first 5 innings, he was perfect in a baseball sense. No hits, no walks, no baserunners.
Potential trouble reared its head in the top of the 6th inning when Antonacci led off with a triple. Teel then walked giving the White Sox runners at first and third with no outs, but they would not score as McGreevy got Vargas to fly out to short right for the first out. The crucial play was Murakami grounding to Burleson at first base who fired the ball home to get Antonacci out in a rundown for the second out. Benetendi’s groundout to second ended the White Sox 6th with no runs scored.
The St. Louis Cardinals FINALLY got their first hit and baserunner with one out in the bottom of the 6th inning when Nathan Church lanced a single to right field. Masyn Winn followed Church’s lead by smacking a single of his own to left-center giving St. Louis runners at first and second with just one out. Unfortunately, Bryan Torres struck out on a high fastball for the second out. What looked like it would be an inning-ending groundout from Herrera turned into an opportunity as it went off the glove of White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery allowing him to reach and loading the bases. That caused the White Sox to bring in Chris Murphy from the bullpen to face Alec Burleson. Burly proved clutch as he muscled a double into the right field corner scoring three for the Cardinals giving them their first lead of the game at 3-1.
Michael McGreevy gave the Cardinals a great effort Sunday. He pitched 6 innings allowing just 1 earned run while striking out 6 and walking 3.
Gordon Graceffo took over in the top of the 7th inning to begin another St. Louis bullpen adventure. He had no troubles setting the White Sox down 1-2-3 to keep the Cardinals lead preserved at 3-1. After the Cardinals failed to add to their lead in the bottom of the 7th, Gordon was the Cardinals answer for the top of the 8th inning also. He once again had an efficient and drama-free 1-2-3 half-inning.
More than a few of us wanted the Cardinals to add to their 2-run lead in the bottom of the 8th. Nathan Church got that off to a good start as he led off with a double to left-center. The White Sox then turned to Trevor Richards to keep them within striking distance. Masyn Winn did his part by at least flying out to deep right to move Church to third with just one out. Victor Scott II also did his job by lifting a fly ball to right-center deep enough to be a sacrifice fly, but Church failed to tag up and did not score. Unbelievable. After Herrera grounded out to end the Cardinals 8th, you couldn’t help but wonder if that mental error would end up being costly.
The top of the 9th would be in the hands of George Soriano to hold this Cardinals lead and give them a series win. His first pitch was hit for a single into left by Vargas. You just knew that the potential tying run would come up, didn’t you? After Soriano walked Murakami, the potential go-ahead run came to the plate for the White Sox in the form of Benetendi. All he could manage was a weak flyball to center that didn’t advance either runner. Peters grounded out for the 2nd out bringing up Meidroth. Soriano walked him to load the bases and put the potential tying run at 2nd base with the go-ahead run at first. Montgomery, with 31 home runs for the season, stepped to the plate. He mercifully flied out to center on a 2-2 pitch to end the game. It’s never easy with this bullpen, but we’ll take it.
The St. Louis Cardinals begin a 3-game series against the San Francisco Giants Monday night at Busch Stadium. Quinn Mathews takes the mound for the Cardinals while the Giants have yet to announce a starter. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.