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Despite homers, Cardinals open doubleheader against Brewers with a loss

Daniel Guerrero, St. Louis Post-Dispatch on

Published in Baseball

ST. LOUIS — Facing Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski for the first game of a Tuesday doubleheader at Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals had enough runs to take two different leads over Milwaukee's fireballer but weren't able to hold them.

The Cardinals received two runs in the first inning on a homer Jordan Walker hit off Misiorowski to provide a 2-0 lead. After that was wiped away in the third inning, the Cardinals got a solo homer from Ivan Herrera that provided a one-run lead that lasted until the sixth inning.

The lead evaporated in that inning on a game-tying single that bulk reliever Bruce Zimmermann allowed to Garrett Mitchell. And an inning later, the tie turned into a deficit after JoJo Romero, who inherited two runners after Ryne Stanek left with an apparent injury, allowed Christian Yelich to double home a run in the seventh inning of a 4-3 loss.

The Cardinals (47-42) put the game-tying run on base with one out in the ninth vs. closer Abner Uribe. Their last chance to take Game 1 of the doubleheader ended with Uribe recording a strikeout and groundout vs. the final two batters he faced.

Added to the Cardinals’ active roster to give them length behind opener Matt Svanson, Zimmermann pitched five innings of relief after Svanson worked a scoreless first frame.

Zimmermann allowed two runs in the third inning. Those runs came via a double by Joey Ortiz and a single from Yelich. He protected the one-run lead provided by Herrera’s homer with scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth before surrendering the two-out RBI single to Garrett Mitchell in the sixth that tied the game.

Aside from the two homers and single they collected off Misiorowski, the Cardinals struck out 11 times and did not draw a walk vs. the Brewers All-Star. Herrera's homer in the third was the last hit the Cardinals got against the righty before he left after seven innings and 103 pitches.

Herrera's homer came on a 102.4 mph fastball. The homer marked the fastest pitch any Cardinal has hit for a homer since pitch tracking began in 2008, per MLB research.

Falling behind in the seventh

Romero entered the seventh inning with runners on first and second and no outs after Stanek left with an apparent injury. Stanek appeared to sustain a right leg injury while attempting to cover first base on a bunt play. He attempted to touch the first base bag following a throw from Alec Burleson but appeared to land short of the base.

Stanek was visited by a team trainer and walked off on his own power. The exit after facing two batters summoned Romero out of the bullpen to pitch with runners on first and second base and no outs in a tied game.

The lefty got one strike away from retiring Yelich but allowed him to double on a 1-2 sweeper left near the middle of the plate.

Play at plate ties game

Following the RBI single he allowed to Yelich with no outs in the third inning, Zimmermann kept the next 11 Brewers he faced to two hits and no runs as he worked into the sixth inning. Zimmermann collected the first two outs without much trouble. Then came back-to-back hits by Jake Bauers and Mitchell.

Zimmermann gave up a double to Bauers and a single to Mitchell in a span of four pitches. The single Mitchell hit to center field forced Nathan Church to charge in and field it off a high hop as he looked to nab Bauers in his attempt to race home from second base.

 

Church's throw was a few feet left of home plate but still on target enough for Crooks to field it and apply a tag on Bauers, who dove in to home head-first. Jimmy Crooks appeared to tag Bauers near the left calf, but the tag did not come in time to prevent him from scoring.

Bauers was called safe by home plate umpire Clint Vondrak. The Cardinals challenged the play, which was confirmed following review.

Walker takes Misiorowski deep

The first inning at-bat between All-Stars Walker and Misiorowski ended with the Cardinals’ young All-Star getting the best of the Brewers’ All-Star right-hander. Walker homered to left field to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

The homer marked Walker’s first hit in six at-bats against Misiorowski.

Entering Tuesday’s doubleheader, Walker was hitless in five at-bats against Misiorowski. He struck out once in his five at-bats.

During his first encounter vs. Misiorowski, Walker was thrown a 95.1 mph cutter on the first pitch of his first at-bat. The Cardinals right fielder pulled it 386 feet to left field for his 21st homer of the season and his second in three games.

Herrera breaks up consecutive K’s

After Walker’s homer and a double from Lars Nootbaar in the at-bat that followed, the Cardinals did not put a ball in play across five consecutive at-bats against Misiorowski.

That was until Herrera stepped up to see the righty for a second time and homered.

Before the homer, Misiorowski struck out Bryan Torres, Church, Jose Fermin, Crooks and JJ Wetherholt in succession. Each of the five strikeouts ended with a whiff. Four of those whiffs were on fastballs that ranged between 102.1 mph and 103.5 mph.

When he stepped in to face Misiorowski, Herrera worked a 2-1 count before being thrown a 102.4 mph fastball located near the middle of the strike zone. The Cardinal slugger sent Misiorowski’s fastball 378 feet to left field to give the Cardinals a lead that eventually disappeared.

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