The St. Louis Cardinals, who had endured the team’s second-worst road start, came alive on Wednesday, hitting six home runs and defeating the Cincinnati Reds 15-1 in a doubleheader sweep.
The Cardinals prevailed 9-1 in the second game and 6-0 in the first. They had 15 hits in the twinbill at the end.
The Cardinals have not swept a doubleheader at Cincinnati since Crosley Field on June 28, 1959.
“It’s hard to take two games from anybody,” Oliver Marmol, the manager of St. Louis, stated. “This team has been correctly playing the game. It hasn’t worked out for us. I hope something is sparked today.
The Cardinals had their worst away start since going 2-15 in 1960 after losing the first game of the series against the Reds, slipping to 2-12 on the road.
The Cardinals were hitting.239 away from home and.289 at Busch Stadium going into the doubleheader. In road games, the team’s ERA was 5.94.
The Cardinals had faith that things will improve shortly because nine of the road losses were by three runs or less.
Masyn Winn’s single shot into the upper deck in the first inning of Game 1 kicked off the doubleheader, which was scheduled following a rainout on Tuesday. In a 6-0 victory, St. Louis blasted three straight home runs off Alexis Diaz in the ninth inning, and Winn hit another home run.
It was the first time in the modern era that the Cardinals had blasted back-to-back-to-back homers in the ninth.
After being elevated to the No. 2 position in the order by Marmol, Winn went 4 for 8 with two home runs, four runs scored, a double, and two RBIs in the two games.
“Just get on base and catch a barrel,” explained Winn. At the leadoff place, Lars Nootbaar is establishing the mood. I notice a shift in the team’s enthusiasm once I begin going.”
Although Marmol minimized the move, it had an impact.
The manager remarked, “Masyn just brings a different element, lots of energy,” “The two home runs in the opening game. A couple knocks this game. Simply a great deal of energy.
Pedro Pagés had the most outstanding at-bat of the day on Wednesday. He worked the count to 2-2 against Case Petty, a right-hander who was making his major league debut at the age of 22, then fouled off six consecutive pitches before hitting his third home run of the year.
When Pagés remarked, “I just wanted to be aggressive with him,” “I simply continued to foul them off and off. I was breathing deeply outside. I made an effort to maintain my composure and inner peace.
In the first inning of the nightcap, Petty allowed Willson Contreras to blast a three-run homer.
“Definitely a great long day,” said Steven Matz, who started the second game. “To come out with two wins is huge for us.”
