The Cardinals lost in heartbreaking fashion today in their first game north of the border against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Things started off nicely when Nolan Arenado singled home Masyn Winn to kick off the scoring, 1-0.
Later in the first, Thomas Saggese singled home Alec Burleson to double the score to 2-0.
Things were silent until the fourth inning, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled home former Astro George Springer to cut into the lead, 2-1.
Later that half-inning, Spencer Horowitz hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Nathan Lukes and tying the score at 2.
Alejandro Kirk finalized the damage that half inning with a single, scoring Vlad to make it 3-2 Blue Jays.
Thomas Saggese crushed his first career round-tripper in the bottom of the eighth inning to knot up the score at 3.
Erick Fedde got the start for the Redbirds, going five solid innings and allowing three runs on six hits, one walk, and three punchouts. John King pitched an inning of scoreless relief, allowing one hit in the process. Matthew Liberatore continues strong work out of the bullpen this season, working three frames while allowing just one hit and one walk. He also fanned three Blue Jays. Ryan Fernandez took the loss, working an inning and a third, giving up a run on two hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
Kyle Gibson (8-6, 4.20 ERA) gets the nod tomorrow against Jose Berrios (15-9, 3.52 ERA).
The Blue Jays, who entered the game with a 77-66 record, were looking to stay in the playoff race. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are looking to end the season on a strong note.
The Blue Jays got off to a slow start, but they were able to turn things around in the fourth inning. Guerrero's double, Horwitz's sacrifice fly, and Kirk's single gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead.
The Cardinals tied the game in the eighth inning on Saggese's home run, but they were unable to score again. In the 11th, the Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out before Kirk delivered the game-winning hit.
The Blue Jays' victory was a testament to their resilience. They were able to overcome a slow start and a tough opponent to come away with a win. The Cardinals, on the other hand, will need to find a way to bounce back from this loss.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. Defensive Prowess
We should start this by acknowledging the three amazing plays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made in the field today:
Guerrero started at third base and made a fine defensive play in the seventh, diving to snare Paul Goldschmidt’s hard grounder and tagging out Masyn Winn, who had strayed off the bag.
“He was kind of on a full display today,” Schneider said. “Those plays were obviously huge for us.”
That seventh inning defensive gem was a snapshot of what would be an otherwise quiet night at the hot corner. And Guerrero’s presence there certainly carries some intrigue as he approaches 100 innings at third this season, the same position he broke into the major leagues at back in 2019 with mixed (we’re being polite here) results.
For now, it’s just a late-season experiment, heaped on to the fact-finding mission of the otherwise meaningless September baseball being conducted in these parts.
Once thought to be the position he’d call home for good, Guerrero lasted just a season at third. But times (and need) have changed, as has Guerrero’s maturation and prowess defensively.
“His overall game awareness is better,” manager John Schneider said of Guerrero prior to Friday’s acrobatics. “He was 19 years-old and learning everything on the fly (when he previously played third) and so much attention went into his offence.
“He’s played more some he’s got a better clock. I think it’s been impressive that he’s picked it right back up.”
No one is ready to anoint Guerrero the third baseman of the future, but in an off-season where so many holes need to be addressed, it can’t hurt to explore options. And that’s exactly what the team will do with Guerrero’s defensive assignments as often as it makes sense over the final two weeks of 2024.
As comfortable as Guerrero has been at first — winning a Gold Glove there in 2022 — third has always been his preferred perch. But after logging 96 games and 824 innings at the position in his rookie 2019 season, he lost the job because of fitness concerns that dulled his performance.
Just 19 at the time, Guerrero switched spots, seemingly for good playing just four innings at third over the next four seasons. But with no natural long-term third baseman on the roster, why not explore the possibilities?
“There are a few things that need to be cleaned up of course, but there’s no doubt in my mind that if he ever hard to play third base every day that he would be an above average defender at the position,” Jays third base coach Carlos Febles said on Friday. “Third base is way different than first base but you have to play a little faster than first. But this is a guy who has good hands and good instincts. It’s a matter of getting the right repetitions and absolutely he can definitely be a solid third baseman at this level.”
Guerrero's Arm Strength
And then there’s the arm. When he was third base coach with the Red Sox, Febles remembers feeling the same way about the younger Guerrero, who was just getting his feet wet in the big leagues.
“I watched a little bit and I just saw the arm,” Febles said of Guerrero, who also made two more stellar plays at first in each of the ninth and 10th innings to keep the game tied. “I knew he had good hands and there were little things he needed to work on, but a guy who has an arm like that, that helps at third. You can get away with staying back on balls and not rush. He can trust his instincts and trust his arm.”
As he works with Guerrero now – as Febles did during a lengthy session prior to Friday’s game — he sees a much more athletic version than the rookie who committed 17 errors.
“He’s in better shape and that helps him to move laterally,” Febles said. “For him to play third base, has has to keep himself in really good shape because you have to move a little more over there than at first.
“But I know he likes it. Every time he plays (at third) he enjoys it.”
Gausman's Performance
After allowing hits to the first four Cardinals batters he faced – and letting the visitors jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first – Jays starter Kevin Gausman settled into a groove shutting down the Cards through six subsequent scoreless innings. … The Jays did damage of their own with a three-run fourth that started with a rocket Guerrero double to drive home George Springer … With Gausman done after his nine hit, two earned run effort (on 94 pitches), the Cards tied it in the eighth when St. Louis second baseman Thomas Saggese launched the first home run of his career.
Gausman allowed two runs and nine hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out three.
“That was huge,” an appreciative Gausman said. “Not much was going my way that inning, to kind of steal an out there was huge. That’s what (Barger) can do with his arm out there. He can throw 100 from the outfield. Whereas most guys probably wouldn’t even think about making that throw, he came up gunning.”
Kirk's Clutch Hit
After Guerrero was walked, Leo Jimenez laid down a perfect bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. The Jays catcher launched a fly ball to left field beyond the Cards outfielders to cash in the winner … “You’re back there as a catcher for 11 innings, and you’re grinding,” manager John Schneider said of Kirk. “It’s great for him.”
The Blue Jays will hope that Kirk can continue to be a clutch hitter for them down the stretch. They will need him to be if they want to make a run at the playoffs.
Other Notables
“You don’t deserve to win when you go 2 for 19 with runners in scoring position,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “It’s tough to do it.”
The Cardinals came in 9-3 this season against AL East opponents. The Cardinals haven’t lost a series to an AL East team since losing two of three at Boston in June 2022.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Jays will look to carry this momentum into their next game against the Cardinals. The Cardinals will look to bounce back from this loss and get back on track.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday, with the Blue Jays looking to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Final Word
The Blue Jays' win was a big one for them. They were able to overcome a tough opponent and get a much-needed win. The Cardinals, on the other hand, will need to find a way to bounce back from this loss.
The Blue Jays and the Cardinals are two of the best teams in the American League. This series is sure to be a close one. It will be interesting to see which team can come out on top.
