Michael Watson Steadies Springfield Bullpen in Comeback Win

Cardinal Chronicle
Pitcher of the Day
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Michael Watson Steadies Springfield Bullpen in Comeback Win

Michael Watson did not need much noise to make his case Monday night.

On a night when Springfield’s offense carried the headline with an 11-6 comeback win over Wichita, Watson gave the Cardinals exactly what they needed out of the bullpen: clean innings, strikeouts and no drama.

Watson earns The Cardinal Chronicle’s Pitcher of the Day honors after throwing two perfect innings in relief. He did not allow a hit, did not issue a walk and struck out three, helping Springfield shut the door after the game had tilted away from the Cardinals in the middle innings.

Springfield had built an early lead before Wichita pushed across six runs against starter Brandt Thompson and moved in front 6-3. From there, the Cardinals’ bullpen changed the tone of the game.

Hunter Hayes got the bridge started. Austin Love followed with a scoreless inning. Then Watson took over and gave Springfield two of the cleanest innings of the night, retiring all six batters he faced and striking out three of them.

That mattered because Springfield’s offense was in the middle of taking the game back.

Travis Honeyman’s two-run homer in the sixth pulled the Cardinals within one. Trey Paige’s three-run blast in the seventh put Springfield ahead for good. Watson’s work helped make that rally stand, keeping Wichita quiet while the Cardinals added insurance and turned a tight game into a comfortable finish.

It was not a long outing, but it was an important one. Two perfect innings out of the bullpen can change the feel of a game, especially after the starter has been knocked around and the offense is trying to claw back.

Watson gave Springfield command when it needed calm.

On a light farm-system Monday, his steady relief work earned the top pitching honor.

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