Homecoming Heroics gives Cards 4-2 Win

The Cardinal Chronicle
Homecoming Heroics Lead to 4-2 Win 
St. Louis, Mo.
By Ray Mileur

PITTSBURGH — For eight innings Monday night at PNC Park, the St. Louis Cardinals looked lifeless at the plate, hitless deep into the game, and headed toward a fifth straight loss.

Then came the ninth.

And then came JJ Wetherholt.

Playing his first major league game at PNC Park, just 30 miles south of his hometown of Mars, Pennsylvania, Wetherholt delivered another signature moment in what is quickly becoming a remarkable first month in the majors, blasting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning to ignite a stunning 4-2 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

The dramatic rally snapped a four-game losing streak for St. Louis, ended the Cardinals’ 36-inning scoreless drought in Pittsburgh, and served notice once again that this young club has no quit in it.

That’s now 10 comeback wins in the Cardinals’ first 28 games.

That’s character.
That’s a fighting spirit.
And on this night, that was Wetherholt’s stage.

Trailing 2-0 entering the ninth and staring at another frustrating defeat, Pedro Pagés finally cracked the scoreboard with a solo homer to left, snapping both the shutout and the drought.

One pitch sequence later, Wetherholt sent another baseball soaring into the Pittsburgh night.

Tie game.

Ballpark stunned.

Family and friends were going crazy.

The hometown kid had delivered in front of his people.

And the Cardinals were just getting started.

Victor Scott II, in to pinch-run for Ivan Herrera who worked a walk.

Alec Burleson beat out an infield single.

Jordan Walker drew another walk.

Bases loaded.

Then came José Fermín, pinch-hitting for Nolan Gorman, who ripped a two-run double into the left-field corner that turned an impossible night into an unforgettable win.

Just like that: Cardinals 4. Pirates 2.

Baseball’s funny that way — 20 straight men retired, nearly no-hit into the seventh, blanked for 8⅓ innings ... and then four runs cross in a blink.

Old school truth: you only have to be better than them when the last out is made.

On the mound, Dustin May deserved better than the early line suggested. He gave up runs in each of the first two innings, then settled in beautifully, holding Pittsburgh scoreless the rest of his six innings while keeping St. Louis within striking distance/

His final line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Quietly, a strong outing.

The bullpen did its part from there.

Ryan Fernandez was electric, tossing two perfect innings while striking out four straight batters at one point, giving the Cardinals exactly the bridge they needed.

With closer Riley O'Brien unavailable, George Soriano worked around late traffic in the ninth to secure his first save of the season.

Game Notes:

• Wetherholt has now homered in three straight games.
• His sixth homer already ties him among the club leaders.
• The Cardinals recorded their second win this season when trailing entering the ninth.
• Newly claimed left-hander Luis Peralta was assigned to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
• Hunter Dobbins is expected to be recalled Thursday for a spot start opposite Paul Skenes.

For one night, though, all eyes belonged to the rookie from western Pennsylvania;

Big moment.
Big swing.
Big win.

That’s baseball — and sometimes, it writes a better script than Hollywood ever could.