Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas weathered an early storm that included a four-run inning, and he still turned the game over to the bullpen with a lead. However, the San Diego Padres scored three runs in the final third of the game to secure a victory and assure themselves at worst a series split.
The Cardinals fell to the Padres 7-5 in front of an announced crowd of 27,224 at Busch Stadium for the second game of a four-game series in former Cardinals skipper Mike Shildt’s return to ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
At 98 degrees at first pitch, the game marked the hottest at Busch Stadium since July 27, 2023, when the temperature was 99 degrees.
Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit his 20th home run of the season and reached base four times as part of a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.
Masyn Winn (2 for 4, walk, run scored) also had a multi-hit game, while Lars Nootbaar (1 for 4, RBI) and Luken Baker (0 for 3, walk) also drove in runs for the Cardinals (65-67).
The Cardinals held a slim 5-4 lead entering the seventh inning, but left-handed reliever John King gave up a one-out walk and a single to start the seventh. A double steal put runners on second and third, and Jurickson Profar’s sacrifice fly to center field tied the score 5-5.
King came within a pitch of getting through the inning with the score tied, but Jake Cronenworth swatted a 2-2 pitch from King into center field for the go-ahead RBI single.
Recently recalled right-hander Riley O’Brien gave up an insurance run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning. That gave the Padres (76-58) a two-run advantage.
Cease stumbles out of the gate
Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease, the runner-up for the 2022 American League Cy Young Award, made his team-leading 28th start of the season. He entered the day with the second-most pitches thrown (2,609) in the National League, and he had the third-best strikeouts per nine innings (11.23).
The Padres acquired Cease from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Samuel Zavala as well as right-handers Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte and Steven Wilson.
The Cardinals got to Cease early with two first-inning runs after Winn singled and Alec Burleson’s double put runners on second and third before an out was recorded in the bottom of the first.
Winn scored on a wild pitch that sailed over catcher Luis Campusano, and Burleson advanced to third. Burleson then scored on a Luken Baker sacrifice fly. The first three batters of the day yielded two runs for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals put the leadoff batter on base in four of the five innings Cease began on the mound.
Mikolas runs into trouble
After an 11-pitch first inning for Mikolas, the Padres cut the deficit in half one batter into the second inning on Manny Machado’s solo home run. He clubbed an elevated change-up on the inner half of the plate.
Machado, who also homered on Monday night, lined the fourth 3-2 pitch of the at-bat from Mikolas into the visiting bullpen for his 22nd homer of the season.
After Mikolas struck out Xander Bogaerts on a called strike three, rookie Jackson Merrill swatted his 22nd double of the season to right field. Back-to-back singles, the second by Campusano, tied the score 2-2 with just one out.
The Padres took the lead on an RBI groundout by No. 9 hitter Mason McCoy. Then with two outs, Luis Arraez singled on the ground into left field and drove in the fourth run of the inning.
The Padres sent eight batters to the plate, collected four runs on five hits and forced Mikolas to throw 36 pitches in the frame.
Missed op
portunities and a great catch
The Cardinals had a chance to cut into the Padres’ 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning. They loaded the bases with one out on a Goldschmidt single, a Jose Fermin fielder’s choice, a Victor Scott II single and a Winn walk.
However, Burleson grounded softly to first base and the Padres got the force-out at home plate for the second out of the inning. The next batter, Baker, struck out swinging on the second 3-2 pitch from Cease. The Cardinals left the bases loaded.
The Padres had a chance to add to their lead in the top of the third when Cronenworth walked and advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Merrill lined a ball deep to the left-center side of center field.
Scott made a leaping catch on the run before he crashed into the outfield wall. The catch stole an extra-base hit from Merrill, one that likely would have scored Cronenworth from second base. As Scott jogged off the field, Merrill waited in shallow center field to greet him with a high-five and a hug.
In the bottom of the third, the Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs. All three runners reached via walks. However, Cease struck out Scott swinging on three consecutive sliders to keep the score 4-2.
Cardinals chase Cease, take the lead
The Cardinals started the night 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position against Cease. That streak continued until Nootbaar’s RBI single in the fifth inning.
Brendan Donovan singled to start the fifth, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a groundout by Ivan Herrera. Nootbaar’s single made it a one-run game, 4-3.
The next batter, Goldschmidt, reached the 20-home run plateau for the 11th time in his career and gave the Cardinals a one-run edge. With reliever Bryan Hoeing on the mound, Goldschmidt mashed a 2-2 sinker an estimated 406 feet to left-center field.
Nootbaar’s run went on Cease’s tab. Cease allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks in 4⅓ innings.
Sports columnists Ben Frederickson and Jeff Gordon break down what Pat Murphy and Mike Shildt have done for their respective clubs this season.
Cardinals relief pitcher John King walks to the dugout after being removed from the game after giving up two runs and the lead in the seventh inning of a game against the Padres on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt celebrates his two-run home run with outfielder Lars Nootbaar in the fifth inning of a game against the Padres on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn scores a wild pitch by Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease in the first inning of a game Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at Busch Stadium.