MLB
Cardinals Sweep Cubs to Hold on to Division Lead
Sunday night, on national television, Dexter Fowler’s walk-off two-run home run in the 14th inning gave the Cardinals their first sweep of the Cubs since the middle of June 2016. After winning the first two games 3-2 and 8-6, it took five extra innings for the Cards to finish off their division rival in the series finale. The Redbirds win put them ahead of the Brewers by 1.5 games for the division lead and sent the Cubs into fourth place behind the Pirates.
Wacha’s Outing
Michael Wacha started the game for St. Louis, but only went 5.1 innings despite allowing just one earned run. Wacha’s effectiveness wasn’t the problem, it was his pitch count. Also, The big righty threw 96 pitches on the night, surrendering six hits, three walks and five strikeouts. He kept the Cardinals in the game and allowed the bullpen to take over, and that they did.
Bullpen Shuts Down Cubs
The Cards bullpen was sharp to say the least. They combined for 8 2/3 innings and allowed just the one run in the 14th on three hits and five strikeouts. Manager Mike Matheny threw six different arms at the Cubs out of the pen Sunday night. Luke Gregerson came in and polished off the sixth for Wacha, followed by Tyler Lyons, Jordan Hicks, and Greg Holland for an inning each. Additionally, Sam Tuivailala came in to start extra innings, and after he threw two scoreless, Matheny went to Mike Mayers for three. Also, Mayers allowed all three hits and the only run that the bullpen gave up, but he was let off the hook by Fowler in the bottom of the 14th.
Fowler’s Walk-Off
With two out in the 14th, Harrsion Bader set up Fowler’s walk-off home run by beating out an infield single. Then Dexter came up and launched a deep line drive into right field. The ball landed just in front of the first row, over the outreached glove of none other than Jason Heyward. Also, Fowler’s first career walk-off homer gave the Cardinals the 4-3 victory and a series sweep. This was already the Cardinals fifth walk-off of the young season.
This article was originally written by former TSJ101SPORTS MLB Department editor and writer Canyon Clark. Due to systems modalities, the article has been assigned to the author tag designation “Former Writers”.
