Cardinals closer Bud Norris was flawless in the ninth inning Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium. He set down the Kansas City Royals in order and struck out two.
The 10th inning couldn’t have been more different. Norris loaded the bases, then allowed a two-run single to catcher Drew Butera, who is hitting .176. It proved to be the difference as the last-place Royals beat the Cardinals 5-2 in 10 innings, handing Mike Matheny’s squad a series loss.
Greg Holland’s recent struggles out of the bullpen have forced Matheny to rely heavily on Norris, who had not allowed a run in his previous five appearances.
The day after scoring only one run on 11 hits in a loss to the Royals, the Cardinals managed just six hits Wednesday. They had one hit over the final five innings covered by four Kansas City relievers.
Though Tommy Pham has gone hitless the past three games, he made an impact defensively. The center fielder robbed Jorge Soler of an extra base hit in the seventh inning, covering 87 feet to make a leaping grab. Alex Gordon, the next Royals’ batter, singled up the middle. Had Pham not made the play on Soler, it likely would have led to a Royals lead.
Catcher Francisco Pena provided an offensive spark for the Cardinals, driving in a run with a second inning double. He had two hits on the day and was robbed of another when Alex Gordon made a diving play in left field. Pena showed durability, too, staying in the game after Hunter Dozier’s bat directed a 102-mph sinker from Jordan Hicks off the catcher’s knee.
• BOX SCORE: Royals 5, Cards 2 (10 innings)
• CARDS TALK: Fans rant about series loss to Royals
Michael Wacha continued his strong 2018 season, going 6.2 innings and allowing only one earned run. He struck out six and lowered his ERA to 2.88. Hicks also threw well. His sinker did not reach 105.1 mph like he did Sunday, but he struck out two in a scoreless inning of work.
LYONS READY TO RETURN
Tyler Lyons, on the disabled list since May 9 with a mid back strain, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and looks ready to return to action. Lyons will travel with the team to Pittsburgh on Thursday; manager Mike Matheny said "we'll head into Pittsburgh and make a decision when we get there."
“I felt really good,” Lyons said after his session. “Now I'm just waiting to see what happens.”
Lyons said the break was good for him to find his sharpness. Lyons, one of the team's two lefties out of the bullpen along with Brett Cecil, has a 6.17 ERA.
“To have a little time to kind of recollect myself, to figure out what I wanted to work on during this time when you didn't have to worry about going into the game that night will hopefully be very beneficial for me,” Lyons said. “It allowed me to take a step back and not have to worry about throwing in a game but work on some things I wanted to work on.”
"Whenever we take time to get guy's right, we use every day we can," Matheny said. "We have guys who have been throwing the ball really well too. There are a lot of factors that go into it."
NEXT STEP ON HOLLAND UNCLEAR
Matheny said how struggling reliever Greg Holland would use was still unclear and the team was working to find a solution.
"Did I have an epiphany?" Matheny said. "Actually, the guys did find some things because they are relentlessly, as he is, trying to get to the bottom of what's going on here and how do we fix it. ... Greg Holland I believe can be a really big piece for this club. We just have to help him get through something that he's never been through before. There are quite a few people that are trying to help him do it."
GARCIA AVAILABLE
Matheny said that Greg Garcia, who left the game on Monday with tightness in his back, was available today.
"I wouldn't say completely (better)," Matheny said, "but available in any regard. He still has some tightness back there but they seem to be ahead of it."
LINEUPS
Cardinals:
1. Tommy Pham, CF
2. Matt Carpenter, 2B
3. Jose Martínez, 1B
4. Tyler O'Neill, LF
5. Jedd Gyorko, 3B
6. Harrison Bader, RF
7. Yairo Muñoz, SS
8. Francisco Peña, C
9. Michael Wacha, P
ROYALS
1. Jon Jay, cf
2. White Merrifield, 2b
3. Mike Moustakas, 3b
4. Salvador Perez, 1b
5. Jorge Soler, rf
6. Alex Gordon, lf
7. Alcides Escobar, ss
8. Drew Butera, c
9. Jakob Junis, p
GANT WILL START FRIDAY
Matheny announced Wednesday that right-hander John Gant will start Friday in Pittsburgh. Gant has made two starts this year and boasts a 4.67 ERA in five games pitched.
Thursday's off day would have allowed Matheny to start Jack Flaherty on full rest, but he elected to go with Gant.
"Getting the extra day's rest makes a lot of sense," Matheny said.
