ST. LOUIS — The good feelings generated by big home runs from Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Gorman on Monday night evaporated less than 24 hours later.
The Cardinals saw the Diamondbacks score four runs in the third, six runs in the fifth and four more runs in the sixth on their way to a blowout win on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium
Starter Steven Matz and Zack Thompson each allowed seven runs as the Cardinals lost for the fifth time in their last six games.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The lone run for the Cardinals came on a first-inning home run from Willson Contreras, his third of the season … They were limited to five hits the rest of the game, including a single and double from Gorman … They were hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position and were held to three runs or less for the 13th time in their last 16 games … Goldschmidt was 0-of-4 and struck out three times.
On the mound: Back-to-back walks started the trouble for Matz in the third, prior to a three-run homer from Christian Walker. Matz allowed another run in the fifth before leaving with two runners on base, both of whom scored after Thompson relieved. Thompson allowed a two-run homer to Kevin Newman that capped the six-run inning, then gave up a grand slam to Pavin Smith in the sixth … Thompson’s ERA rose to 9.53 as he was charged with the seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings … It was the first time the Cardinals had two pitchers each allow seven or more runs in a game since 2007 … The Cardinals have now given up 29 home runs, the most in the National League. Six of the home runs have come with two runners on base.
Key stat: Leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan had one of the Cardinals hits but saw his streak of failing to score a run reach 10 games. Over that stretch he has just four hits in his last 42 at-bats.
Worth noting: Victor Scott II started in center field and hit leadoff for Memphis in his first game since being optioned to Triple A. He went 0-of-4 as the Redbirds lost 10-1 to Jacksonville … There was better news in Springfield, where Chandler Redmond’s two-run homer in the eighth rallied the Cardinals to an 8-7 win over Arkansas. It also was Redmond’s 59th career home run for Springfield, tying the franchise record set by Xavier Scruggs.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals will face former teammate Jordan Montgomery in the final game of the series and the homestand on Wednesday. Kyle Gibson will start for the Cardinals.