Cardinals get unlikely walk-off win after D-backs throwing error
Take a look around the league with Big League Stew’s daily wrap up. We’ll hit on all of the biggest moments from the day that you may have missed, while providing highlights, photos and interesting stats.
In the end, something went right for the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
On a day they lost their first baseman Matt Adams for at least for three months (maybe even longer) because of a quad tear, the Cards left Busch Stadium with an unlikely walk-off win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. St. Louis’ 4-3 win wasn’t without controversy, though.
Let’s rewind to the first batter of the bottom of the ninth. Jason Heyward hit a solo homer to erase a 3-2 Arizona lead. The Cards then loaded the bases for Jhonny Peralta, who hit a one-out grounder to third. The D-backs tried for the 5-2-3 double play to end the inning.
They forced out the speedy Peter Bourjos at the plate, but as he slid in, Bourjos clipped the leg of D-backs catcher Jordan Pacheco. That caused Pacheco’s throw to first base to sail into the outfield. Matt Carpenter came around to score the winning run. It wasn’t your average walk-off win, but it counts just the same.
D-backs manager Chip Hale argued that Bourjos’ slide was out of line, but after the game Hale admitted it was a “legal slide.” That didn’t stop D-backs fans and Cardinals haters from accusing Bourjos of a dirty slide. This photo probably doesn’t help:
Still, Pacheco didn’t object to the slide either, telling the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro:
“It was a good slide. I tried to get out of there as quick as I could. (Bourjos) is a fast guy and that’s what happens when you have speed on the bases. He got me and I couldn’t hold up and I was already pretty much throwing.”
The Cardinals have an MLB-best 31 wins and that doesn’t happen without a few lucky breaks.
TWINS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT, CLAIM A SHARE OF FIRST IN AL CENTRAL
Ladies and gentlemen, the Minnesota Twins are in first place. Well, they’re tied for first in the AL Central with the Kansas City Royals. But for a team that pretty much everyone expected to finish in the cellar, this is an accomplishment.
The Twins earned their fifth straight win Wednesday, beating the Boston Red Sox 6-4. Torii Hunter drove in two runs. Joe Mauer added another RBI. And Phil Hughes was solid on the mound. The Royals, meanwhile, lost to the Yankees, giving both teams a 28-18 record.
YOENIS CESPEDES POWERS TIGERS PAST HIS FORMER TEAM
Former Oakland Athletics slugger Yoenis Cespedes returned to Bay Area this week for the first time since the much-debated trade that sent him to Boston last summer. Cespedes, now with the Detroit Tigers, made it known he’s not a fan of Oakland’s recent trading practices.
Then in Wednesday’s game, he reminded everyone in Oakland just what they don’t have anymore. Cespedes launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning, the difference in the Tigers’ 3-2 win.
And afterward, Cespedes was still dropping hard truths on A’s fans.
NOAH SYNDERGAARD = THE MAN
New York Mets rookie pitcher Noah Syndergaard had what was easily the most exciting game of his young career Wednesday. He pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings against the Philadelphia Phillies as the Mets won 7-0 and impressed with his bat, going 3-for-3 with a home run.
See, Jon Lester, it’s not that hard.
Want to see more from Tuesday’s slate of games? Check out our scoreboard.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
