ST. LOUIS — Zack Thompson knew that when Sonny Gray returned to the Cardinals’ rotation, somebody was going to get bumped out of that role. As the least experienced of the starters, Thompson knew it likely was going to be him.
On Wednesday, in his first game out of the bullpen, Thompson sent a message – don’t forget about me.
Thompson worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out six, to keep the game close and give the Cardinals a chance, even though they ended up losing the rain-sogged game to the Phillies at Busch Stadium.
It was a sharp contrast to how Thompson pitched in his two starts to begin this season – a combined 10 1/3 innings in which he allowed eight runs, including four homers, taking the loss in the games to the Dodgers and Padres. The results of those starts left him disappointed in his performance, not taking advantage of the opportunity to start.
Now Thompson hopes to show what he can do in a relief role, or whatever role he is asked to fill.
“I’ll be whatever I need to be to help this team win,” Thompson said. “If it means I need to be the long, if it means I need to fill in for starts, whatever it may be. I’m just going to go out there and compete and try to throw up zeros.”
Thompson started off 11 of the 14 Phillies he faced with a strike, and finished with 38 strikes among his 47 pitches.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals came back from a 2-0 first-inning deficit to tie the game on home runs from Ivan Herrera in the second and Brendan Donovan in the third … Their only other hit until the eighth was a single by Alec Burleson in the fourth … Nolan Arenado drove in a run with a single in the eighth but the Cardinals left the would-be tying run on second when Herrera grounded out … Burleson led off the ninth with a single but Masyn Winn flied out before Jordan Walker hit into a game-ending double play.
On the mound: Lance Lynn allowed two unearned runs in the first inning but then did not give up another hit as he pitched through the fifth inning, working around three walks … Andre Pallante relieved to start the sixth and did not retire any of the four hitters he faced, giving up three singles and a walk that turned into the two other runs for the Phillies … Thompson stranded the two runners he inherited, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.
Key stat: The Cardinals lost two of the three games in the series despite keeping Bryce Harper (0-of-11) hitless. He struck out three times and also hit into three double plays in the series. Since the start of the 2021 season Harper is just 3-of-30 in nine games at Busch Stadium.
Worth noting: It was a tough day for Victor Scott II, who made his first error, dropping a fly ball in the first that helped the Phillies get their two runs. He had another ball go off his glove in the seventh and in the eighth got an infield hit, snapping an 0-of-24 streak, but then was tagged out when he made a slight turn toward second base … Herrera’s home run was estimated at 432 feet, the longest by a Cardinal this season … Paul Goldschmidt, just 5-of-40 since he had three hits on opening day, got the day off =.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals will have the day off on Thursday, flying to Arizona to open a three-game weekend series against the Diamondbacks. Steven Matz is the scheduled starter for Friday night. The Cardinals also will play three games in Oakland on the trip.
