ST. LOUIS — What started as a promising day for the Cardinals turned out to be just a long day of disappointment.
The Cardinals were unable to protect an early 3-0 lead in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Busch Stadium and then saw the Royals score in five consecutive innings in the second game to complete the sweep of the two games.
The 6-4 loss in the day game and 8-5 defeat in the night game marked the first time the Cardinals had lost consecutive games since June 18-19 in Miami. It was the first time the Cardinals were swept in a doubleheader featuring nine-inning games since 2015.
Salvador Perez homered in each game for the Royals, who won consecutive games in St. Louis for the first time since 2018.
Here is how Wednesday’s doubleheader broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals had only six hits in the day game, but three were home runs – from Nolan Arenado, Alec Burleson and Paul Goldschmidt, all with nobody on base. It was the first time this season Arenado and Goldschmidt homered in the same game … The Cardinals did not have an at-bat with a runner in scoring position until there were two outs in the ninth inning … In the night game, Lars Nootbaar homered to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead but that lead also was shortlived … Nootbaar also doubled and scored a second run … Alec Burleson also had an RBI double … Nolan Gorman’s only hit in both games was an RBI double in the second game but he also struck out five times in seven at-bats.
On the mound: Andre Pallante could not protect the 3-0 lead in the day game, with the first home run from Perez putting the Royals in front 4-3 in the sixth … They scored two more runs in the eighth off Chris Roycroft … Gordon Graceffo was brought up from Memphis to start game two, his first major-league start and second appearance, and was pulled in the fourth inning after allowing four hits and two runs. Another runner that he left on base later scored … Matthew Liberatore was charged with three runs, including the second homer of the day for Perez, one of three the Cardinals surrendered in the night game.
Key stat: Between the two games, the Cardinals bullpen allowed seven runs over 8 1/3 innings.
Worth noting: After being the DH in his first rehab game on Tuesday night in Springfield, Tommy Edman was scheduled to play center field on Wednesday night. He was shifted to DH when the original lineup was announced, then was a late scratch altogether just as the game began. Edman said he “had a little soreness” after Tuesday’s game, his first since last season, but said he was hopeful that he will be able to play on Thursday as he works his way back from last year’s wrist surgery.
Looking ahead: Because of Tuesday night’s rainout, the Cardinals will have their second day off in a span of three days on Thursday, then welcome the Cubs for four games in three days starting Friday night that will close out the pre-All Star game schedule. Sonny Gray is the scheduled starter for the opener.
Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains.
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