New York Yankees 6, St. Louis Cardinals 2
ST. LOUIS — Harrison Bader hit a sacrifice fly in an distinctive way in the first inning of his return to St. Louis. The talented youngster Anthony Volpe also helped win the game with a key go-ahead triple. This was his fifth straight game with multiple hits. So, by beating the Cardinals 6-2 on Saturday night, the New York Yankees got a split of the doubleheader.
With the rain interrupting the proceedings, St. Louis emerged as the victors in the opening game, securing an impressive 11-4 win. The catalyst for their success was none other than Paul Goldschmidt, whose go-ahead, three-run homer off Luis Severino in the fifth inning propelled the team forward. The pitching prowess of Jack Flaherty was on full display as he dominated the mound, pitching six shutout innings. Goldschmidt continued to shine, amassing an impressive four RBI, while Nolan Gorman contributed to the Cardinals’ offensive prowess with a home run. Notably, this marked the first instance since May 21 that the Cardinals reached a double-digit run total, further highlighting their triumph.
In an amazing change, Volpe’s hitting average has gone from .193 to .220 in just six games. Isiah Kiner-Falefa did a great job of showing off his skills by getting three hits in the second game, which helped the Yankees win. As a result, the team won their fifth game in the last seven, which added to their good momentum.
Despite a commendable home run by Lars Nootbaar for St. Louis, the team’s record fell to 34-48, marking its most challenging 82-game start since 1990. Notably, Nootbaar’s impressive performance included a first-inning homer off opener Ian Hamilton, as the Yankees resorted to a bullpen game due to Friday’s rainout.
Displaying his mastery on the mound, Michael King (2-4) delivered an outstanding performance, conceding only one hit during his scoreless relief stint that spanned a season-high 3 1/3 innings. The formidable trio of Wandy Peralta, Tommy Kahnle, and Clay Holmes continued the impressive pitching display, each contributing a solid inning to maintain the team’s defensive dominance.
Marking his return to St. Louis for the first time since being acquired by the Yankees at last year’s trade deadline, Bader was greeted warmly by the fans. As a crowd favorite who made his remarkable big league debut with the Cardinals in 2017, Bader demonstrated his heartfelt connection to the community by spending time visiting children at Cardinals Glennon Hospital on Friday. When he stepped up to the plate for the first time, he was met with a resounding 30-second standing ovation from the appreciative crowd. Despite his efforts, Bader went 0 for 3 in the game.
In a standout moment, Volpe displayed his prowess by tripling off Matthew Liberatore (1-3) during the second inning, followed by a sacrifice fly from DJ LeMahieu, which granted the team a 3-1 lead. The excitement escalated in the ninth inning when Jose Trevino executed a perfect safety squeeze bunt single, driving in Kiner-Falefa. The momentum continued as Gleyber Torres followed with an impressive two-run single, solidifying their position in the game.
Taking to the field in the night game, Giancarlo Stanton graced left field once again, making his long-awaited return to that position after an absence since July 21 of the previous year.
The opening game was twice interrupted by rain, resulting in a cumulative delay of 2 hours and 37 minutes. The initial stoppage occurred during the middle of the seventh inning and lasted 2 hours and 19 minutes. Following a brief resumption of play, which lasted 18 minutes, the game was once again halted in the middle of the eighth for another 18-minute delay.
Taking on a new role, Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson showcased his versatility by making his debut as a pitcher in the big leagues. With remarkable poise, he swiftly retired three consecutive batters, utilizing a range of pitches that clocked in between 82-86 mph, delivering a total of 11 pitches.
After an impressive performance of six shutout innings against Texas, Severino (1-3) faced a challenging outing, surrendering seven runs and nine hits over four innings. This contributed to an increase in his ERA, which now stands at 6.30. Notably, Severino’s 56 fastballs in this game averaged 95.1 mph, a decrease of 1.5 mph compared to his season average.
Severino acknowledged that they had taken a good approach against him and mentioned that even the pitches they hit out were good pitches.
In the seventh inning, Oswaldo Cabrera contributed to the Yankees’ offensive efforts by hitting an RBI single. Prior to this game, the team had achieved victories in four out of their previous five matchups. Additionally, Jake Bauers added to the Yankees’ success with a two-run homer off Drew VerHagen during a three-run ninth inning in the opener.
UP NEXT
In an upcoming Sunday matchup, New York’s right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.78) is set to take on Montgomery (5-7, 3.52) on the mound. Notably, Montgomery displayed his skill in a previous encounter against the Yankees last August 6, where he delivered five shutout innings en route to a 1-0 victory, just four days after the trade.
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