He wanted reliable at-bats. 245 to that point, and had four home runs.
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At each point the game seemed to be trending toward the visitors, Molina seized control.
The Yankees edged Minnesota 4-3, with New York rookie Greg Bird hitting a pair of soaring two-run drives for his first major league homers.
With leadoff hitter Kelby Tomblinson on first in the top of the sixth of a 3-2 game, Tomblinson broke for second and Molina gunned down the speedy second baseman from his knees.
Heading into the eighth knotted at three, Molina dug into the box facing off against the flame throwing Hunter Strickland. Each time it was Yadi to the rescue. Yunel Escobar hit a two-run homer and drove in four.
Michael Wacha turned in seven innings of one-run ball and Yadier Molina clubbed a mammoth home run into Big Mac Land, giving the Cardinals a series-opening win over the reigning World Champion Giants. 1B Matt Adams (quad) is running near full speed and leaves for Florida to begin baseball activities Friday.
“I don’t think we’re a real popular club for whatever reason and some of it is self-induced with ‘We’ve got the Cardinal Way, ‘ which was never intended that way”, Matheny said. “I’m one of the guys who has the experience here”.
Holland threw shutout ball until Mark Trumbo hit his 15th homer in the fifth.
Bird, who was called up from the minor leagues on Thursday, connected twice off Ervin Santana (2-4), who fell to 0-8 in his past 11 starts against New York. Despite the late date of the meeting, the Giants and Cardinals remained similar.
Neither side “makes a lot of mistakes”, Matheny said.
This win was even more dramatic in the series finale.
What’s not the same for the Cardinals this year is on the mound: Jaime Garcia.
The St. Louis Cardinals pitcher was in a bottom-line mood. Piscotty would take care of business a bit later in the game.
I will no longer say the Giants are the best team in baseball. “Anybody that goes up there in that situation is going to get his best”.
“The first pitch I was taking all the way”, Molina explained, “I was ready to hit after that, but he missed his spot”. Just trying to keep him healthy.
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino pitched 6 2-3 solid innings and Derek Dietrich homered as the Marlins beat the Brewers.
Gregor Blanco and Matt Duffy worked walks after Bumgarner’s hit and Brandon Belt was later hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Bumgarner. Seth Maness struck out Posey to put an end to things. Yadi to the rescue. He earlier drove in a run with a first-inning single, while rookie Stephen Piscotty homered in the third.
Billy Burns hit a tying double for Oakland in the sixth then scored the go-ahead run on Danny Valencia’s double-play grounder two batters later.
But Molina gave it to him anyway, and in dramatic fashion.
It, of course, came when it was needed most.
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There’s always the worry of having such a talented pitcher bat and run the bases, as an errant foul tip or routine run toward first could result in an injury and time on the DL. Believe it or not, I’ve decided to concede the point.
