CHICAGO -- It may have taken a while for the Cardinals’ bats to get going on Thursday. But when they finally did, they ensured St. Louis kicked off its doubleheader against the White Sox on a positive note.
Down 4-2 in the eighth after spoiling two bases-loaded opportunities earlier in the day, the Cardinals strung together a three-run rally to help seal a 5-4 victory in Game 1 of the twin bill at Rate Field.
“We’ve done a great job of that this year,” said starter Erick Fedde, who allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits over five innings. “Whether we’ve won or lost, we’ve had a lot of fight in the late innings. These are big games for us to win, and having that fight and coming back is huge.
“At the end of the season, when you’re looking at your record, those games will mean a lot.”
This time, the heroics came from the bats of one likely candidate and another who was a bit of a surprise contributor.
Willson Contreras, just two days after stealing home for the first time in his career, followed Alec Burleson’s leadoff single by clubbing a first-pitch four-seamer well into the left-field stands for a game-tying two-run homer. Later in the frame, with runners at first and third, backup catcher Yohel Pozo came on to pinch-hit for just his 64th at-bat of the season, working the count full before punching the go-ahead RBI single into left.
“That’s a good spot for him there,” manager Oliver Marmol said of Pozo’s at-bat. “They have to make a decision to leave a lefty in. Really nice job by Pozo staying in the zone and then getting the job done.”
The comeback helped erase what was a frustrating day on the mound for Cardinals pitchers.
Fedde, facing the White Sox for the first time since Chicago traded him to the Cardinals as part of a three-team deal with the Dodgers last season, breezed through the first three innings before falling into a jam in the fourth. With two outs and runners at second and third, Fedde induced a grounder from Josh Rojas, but shortstop Masyn Winn followed an impressive stop with a low throw to first, allowing a run to score on the error.
Come the sixth, reliever Steven Matz struck out Lenyn Sosa, but a wild pitch allowed him to get to first base. Matz K’d Austin Slater but then gave up a go-ahead two-run homer to Michael A. Taylor. The southpaw then struck out the next two batters, joining Hall of Famer Bob Gibson as just the second Cardinals pitcher to pull off a four-strikeout inning.
Considering the Cardinals’ inability to cash in by that point of the game, it seemed like Matz’s historic frame was also going to be viewed as the moment the club dropped a winnable game. But, as Fedde noted, late-inning fight has become a trademark of St. Louis' season. Contreras and Pozo not only helped ensure the four strikeouts were what fans remembered most about Matz's sixth inning, they also helped the Cardinals nab themselves a series win.
“These guys have done a nice job of that all year,” Marmol said. “They’re not going to give in. That was a good win.”