After hitting four homers and scoring 14 runs on Tuesday night, the Cardinals’ offense took the night off on Wednesday.
The Cardinals managed just three hits, all singles, in the loss to the Braves. It was the third time they have been shut out in 14 games this month.
So far in May, the Cardinals have scored a total of 62 runs, exactly half of which – 31 – have come in just two games. In addition to being shut out three times, they have scored only once in four games.
Here is how the game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals were limited to a two-out single by Jose Martinez in the fourth, a one-out single by Paul DeJong in the sixth and an infield single by Kolten Wong in the seventh with two outs … Their best scoring chance came in the third when they loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter with one out but Paul Goldschmidt grounded into an inning-ending double play … They received back-to-back walks to begin the eighth inning, but DeJong grounded into a double play and Marcell Ozuna struck out … They were 0-of-5 with runners in scoring position.
On the mound: The Braves hit two homers, one by Austin Riley off Michael Wacha and a two-run shot by Charlie Culberson off John Gant … Riley’s homer was one of four hits allowed by Wacha in five innings. He also walked four and struck out four … John Brebbia and Giovanny Gallegos each worked a 1-2-3 inning in relief, with each recording two strikeouts.
Key stat: Ronald Acuna Jr. had two stolen bases, leading to one of the Braves’ runs. It’s the first stolen bases allowed by the Cardinals since April 6, and only the fifth and sixth steals allowed by the Cardinals this season. Opponents had attempted only two steals in the previous 34 games against the Cardinals and the streak of 34 consecutive games without allowing a stolen base is the longest streak in team history.
Worth noting: The home run by Riley was only the second allowed by the Cardinals to a player in his first major-league game in the last 10 years. The other to hit a homer in his debut against the Cardinals was Ian Happ of the Cubs in 2017 … Carlos Martinez made what is expected to be his final minor-league rehab appearance on Wednesday for Double A Springfield. He pitched two innings, allowing one run on four hit and also hit a batter. He did get a double play in each inning and threw a total of 20 pitches. He likely will join the Cardinals this weekend in Texas … Because of two games which were snowed out earlier this season, the Cardinals’ Peoria affiliate had to play doubleheaders on both Monday and Wednesday. Combined with an extra inning game on Tuesday night, the Chiefs and Beloit Snappers played more than 13 hours of baseball in about 47 hours, with the five games lasting a total of 39 innings.
Looking ahead: Adam Wainwright will get the start on Thursday night in the final game of the series. A Georgia native, Wainwright will be starting for the seventh time in his career in Atlanta but it will his first game at Sun Trust Park, which opened in 2017. It will be the 31st stadium Wainwright has pitched in during his major-league career.
