Velázquez Makes Immediate Impact as Cards Beat Cubs, 6-5

The Cardinal Chronicle
Velázquez Makes Immediate Impact as Cardinals Beat Cubs, 6-5
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals needed a spark. Nelson Velázquez gave them one on the first pitch he saw.

Called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day, Velázquez stepped into the cleanup spot Friday night at Busch Stadium and delivered immediately, launching a three-run home run in his first at-bat with St. Louis to help the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game weekend series.

It was exactly the kind of response the Cardinals needed after entering the night on a four-game losing streak and coming off a rough offensive series in Milwaukee. The Cubs struck first, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first, but St. Louis answered before the inning got away.

Iván Herrera and Jordan Walker reached ahead of Velázquez, and the former Cub did the rest. On the first pitch he saw from Shota Imanaga, Velázquez drove the ball out to left-center field for his first home run of the season, tying the game at 3-3 and changing the tone of the night.

That was not just a good swing. That was a statement swing.

The Cubs regained the lead in the second, but the Cardinals kept chipping away. Herrera added a solo home run, Thomas Saggese also went deep, and St. Louis used three home runs to build just enough offense to hold off Chicago late.

Andre Pallante did not have his cleanest night, allowing early traffic and four runs, but the bullpen picked him up. Justin Bruihl, Gordon Graceffo, George Soriano, JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek helped bridge the game, with the Cardinals holding on despite a late Cubs push.

Chicago finished with 11 hits, but St. Louis played a clean defensive game and made its damage count. The Cardinals had nine hits, no errors, and enough timely power to survive a division fight that looked like it might get away early.

Before the game, the Cardinals made a pair of roster moves designed to jolt the offense and reshape the catching picture. Velázquez and catcher Jimmy Crooks were promoted from Triple-A Memphis, while infielder César Prieto and catcher Yohel Pozo were optioned back to Memphis.

Crooks arrived after hitting 13 home runs for the Redbirds, ranking second on the Memphis roster and among the leaders in the International League. Velázquez came in after batting .232 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 40 games at Memphis, including a stronger May showing.

The Cardinals also noted that Lars Nootbaar continues to make progress on his minor league rehab assignment. Entering Friday, Nootbaar had played seven rehab games and was batting .316 with two home runs, four RBIs and a 1.065 OPS, with stops at Palm Beach, Memphis and Springfield.

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Jonathan Owens, adding another local spotlight moment to a night that already had plenty of energy at Busch Stadium.

For a Cardinals club trying to steady itself in the National League Central race, Friday was not perfect. It was, however, badly needed.

The Cardinals answered an early punch, got instant production from a newly promoted bat, and opened the Cubs series with a win.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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