Heyward waves off Pham moving in from centerfield, he makes the catch and fires a flawless missile into catcher Yadier Molina for the tag of Anthony Rizzo sliding into home for a 9-2 double play extraordinaire.
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St. Louis Cardinals’ Stephen Piscotty (55) celebrates with teammate…
The Cardinals won their fourth-straight game last night after scoring five runs in the first three innings against the Brewers. Before going 1-for-3 Sunday, he was 0-for-13 in the previous three games. Starlin Castro, who had six RBI on Friday, and Tommy La Stella also drove in runs for Chicago.
Haren talked about how it was ingrained in their minds in the Cardinals organization to protect the big guys – like Holliday or Albert Pujols – when they were hit.
The Cardinals moved six games ahead of Chicago in the NL Central. Belisle was immediately tossed from the game and Maddon has every right to be upset with the way that the Cardinals played them. They have made it at least to the National League Championship Series the last four seasons.
“I know we can play with them”, Russell said.
The Cardinals clinched a fifth consecutive postseason berth when the San Francisco Giants lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-0 later in the day. The Pirates remained a game ahead of the Cubs in the race for the first wild card, with both teams comfortably in playoff position.
Now they’ve proved it to the Cardinals, as well. Jason Heyward made a ideal , one-hop bounce to the plate, and Rizzo was easily thrown out.
“It hurts [gripping the bat] a little bit, ” Molina said. “(Russell) just willed his glove on the ball at the end of it”.
“I know nobody wants to believe me”, Maddon said.
Jackie Bradley Jr. snapped an 0-for-21 slump with a tying double in the seventh, then tied it again with a two-run homer off Roberto Osuna (1-5) in the ninth.
In the ninth, pinch-runner Quintin Berry was thrown out trying to steal second by Molina’s replacement, Tony Cruz. Adding to the heat of the first inning was pitcher Carlos Martinez, who was clearly hyped for today’s ballgame. Rosenthal took care of the Cubs with Montero swinging and strand two on the bags.
Seattle Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez allowed two runs in 5-2/3 innings in a 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Rookie Tyler Duffey pitched seven shutout innings, Eddie Rosario and Joe Mauer hit two-run homers, and Minnesota pulled even with Los Angeles in the AL wild-card race.
Jordan Zimmermann allowed six hits and two runs with seven strikeouts and one walk in six innings.
“I’m really disappointed in what the Cardinals did right there”, said Maddon.
The Cubs bullpen did a good job Sunday. He’s 3 for 11 against St. Louis and 0 for 82 against all other teams. Daniel Robertson reached on an error by Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, advanced to second on a wild pitch then to third on a sacrifice bunt.
Albert Pujols had two hits and two RBIs in the nightcap, and Garrett Richards was one out away from his second complete game this season.
The NL Central is baseball’s best division and with two weeks left in the season things are getting heated.
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Cubs pitchers hit batters three times.
