Well, that wasn’t much fun.
It was another rough outing for Bowden Francis. He got into trouble right away, giving up two runs on a walk and three singles. He was getting behind hitters and again struggling with his command. He needed Paxton Schultz to come in and get the last out of the inning for pitch count reasons. He did right the ship from there, spending a lot more time around the edges of the zone. The Cardinals managed three singles in the next two innings but didn’t really threaten. He did catch too much of the plate with his second pitch of the fourth inning, though, and Alec Burleson launched it deep to right field. Francis rallied and got out of the inning. His final line was 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk in 3.2 innings, striking out five. Better than he’s been, but there’s still significant work to be done before the games start mattering in a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, the offence took an inning to get going. Ernie Clement singled in the first but that was it. In the second, Joey Loperfido and Leo Jimenez walked, and Nathan Lukes and Ali Sanchez singled to bring them in. Steward Berroa laid down a bunt single to load the bases with none out, but a Will Wagner double play ball and a Clement strikeout squandered the opportunity.
After two 1-2-3 innings, they managed to tie it in the fifth. Clement singled and Addison Barger brought him home with a double down the left field line.
Brendon Little let St Louis back in front in the home half. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and another hit from Burleson brought two home to make it 5-3. After a quiet top of the sixth, Kevin Gowdy gave up two more, on a Lars Nootbar homer and then a walk and a pair of singles.
Neither side did much in the seventh. The Jays went in order, while the Cardinals got a cheap fly single off Lazaro Estrada (who took over after Gowdy got the first out) but nothing more.
In the eighth, Ryan McCarthy walked and Devonte Brown got an infield single, but the rest of the lineup couldn’t bring them home. The Cards got a pair of insurance runs off Estrada in their half, on a walk and a pair of doubles, extending their lead to 9-3.
Six runs is a tall order in one inning, but at least they didn’t go quietly. Robert Brooks and Will Robertson each hit a home run to cut the deficit to four, although the rally sputtered there.
Tomorrow’s game is back in Dunedin, against the Barves. Jose Berrios will take the mound for Toronto, while Atlanta hasn’t announced a starter.