The St. Louis CardinalsThey were just two outs from eliminating the Philadelphia Phillies. Then they completely collapsed.
Poor defense and pitching relief from St. Louis made a difference in the game and the series.
Now, the Cards are just one loss away of having their season come to an abrupt halt after the Phillies win miraculously 6-3 Friday.
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Edmundo Sosa, Philadelphia Phillies (33) passes Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals’ catcher, during the ninth inning of Game 1 in a National League wildcard series. This was in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Ryan Helsley was called by the Cards for a save with five outs and a 2-0 lead. The Phillies only had four baserunners in the eighth inning. The ninth was an entirely different story.
After starting the inning by striking out, Helsley loaded bases by allowing a single and two back-to-back walks. Helsley then hit Alec Bohm for a run. Helsley was taken out — by an athletic trainer, not by the decision of manager Oliver Marmol — and in came Andre Pallante to get the final two outs with the bases loaded.
Jean Segura managed to score a run under Tommy Edman’s glove, giving the Phillies a 3-1 lead. Bryson Stett hit a grounder that was voted MVP favorite Paul GoldschmidtThe game was stopped at the first pitch, but the pinch runner EdmundoSosa ran for home. However, the throw to the plate was too late and it became a 4-2 match.
Brandon Marsh then hit a routine, double play ball but it was caught by the glove of nine-time Gold Glove Award (and 5-time Platinum Glove Award winner) winner. Nolan ArenadoIt was a three-run lead. Philly was 6-2 ahead after Kyle Schwarber added the sac fly.
With two outs in bottom of ninth, the Cardinals had the tie-breaking run at the plate. However, Yadier Molina scored to end the game.
Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals, left, are pictured together in the dugout during Game 1 of a National League wild card series against the Philadelphia Phillies. This was Friday, October 7, 2022 in St. Louis.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
There was no real threat to anyone until the bottom sixth inning when both starters traded zeros. Edman singled and Lars Nootbar reached base to start the inning. This brought up the hot Albert Pujols. But he grounded into an outfield double play. Goldschmidt, who had a man on third base, came to the plate and grounded to end the threat.
In the seventh, the Cards didn’t let an opportunity go to waste. After Dylan Carlson drew a walk with two outs in the seventh, Juan Yepez was called to pinch-hit for Corey Dickerson. He saw Jose Alvarado pitch one and launched a two run homer, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead.
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However, this was only temporary.
Jose Quintana came into the day with the league’s lowest ERA and WHIP since the start of September. He tossed 5 ⅓ scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out three. Zack Wheeler was even more dominant, going 6 ⅓ scoreless. He also allowed only two hits and one walk, with four punchouts.
Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies is hit by a pitch in Game 9 of a National League wildcard series against St. Louis Cardinals. It took place in St. Louis, Friday, October 7, 2022.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Aaron Nola, Pitcher for the Phillies, will be looking to send them to the NLDS to face the defending World Series champions. Atlanta BravesMiles Mikolas will keep St. Louis alive Saturday.
