Cardinals Reliever Comes Close to Escaping 10th Inning, But Nationals Take Advantage
In a tense and pivotal moment in the 10th inning, Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez was just one strike away from getting out of a jam and keeping the game tied. But fate had other plans as he walked Washington Nationals infielder Trey Lipscomb, setting the stage for a game-changing play.
With two outs and two runners in scoring position, the Nationals’ Trey Lipscomb stepped up to the plate and delivered a crushing blow to the Cardinals’ hopes. A line drive to right field, which was misjudged by right fielder Dylan Carlson, resulted in a three-run triple that completely flipped the outlook of the game.
The Cardinals, who had been leading the game, suddenly found themselves trailing by three runs in extra innings. And to add insult to injury, the Nationals tacked on another run with an infield single, securing a 10-8 victory in front of a crowd of 41,382 at Busch Stadium on Friday night.
It was a heartbreaking loss for the Cardinals, who had fought hard throughout the game. But in the end, it was the Nationals who capitalized on the crucial mistake and emerged victorious. .295 on-base percentage and a .360 slugging percentage.
Cardinals Reliever Comes Up Short in Extra-Inning Loss to Nationals
In a nail-biting game at Busch Stadium on Friday night, Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez almost pulled off a miraculous escape in the 10th inning. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, Fernandez was just one strike away from getting out of the inning unscathed. But fate had other plans.
Instead, Fernandez walked Washington Nationals infielder Trey Lipscomb, setting the stage for a game-changing moment. The next batter hit a line drive that right fielder Dylan Carlson misjudged and couldn’t catch while on the run. The result? A three-run triple that flipped the outlook of the game and ultimately led to a 10-8 loss for the Cardinals.
The loss dropped the Cardinals’ record to 5-8 in extra-inning games this season, highlighting a recurring issue for the team. And while they started off strong against the Nationals’ left-handed pitcher, their offense stagnated after the first few innings, with just two hits from the fifth through ninth innings.
One bright spot for the Cardinals was first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who hit a 10th-inning two-run home run for his 2,000th career hit. But it was not enough to overcome the Nationals’ late surge.
On the pitching side, starter Sonny Gray had a solid outing, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings. He also struck out seven before handing the game over to the bullpen.
For the Nationals, the game marked the return of former Cardinals player Juan Yepez, who made his first appearance at Busch Stadium as a member of the visiting team. Yepez, who was traded to the Nationals in 2017, batted cleanup and started at first base for the series opener.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals will have a chance to redeem themselves in the next two games of the series. But for now, they’ll have to regroup and address their struggles against left-handed pitchers if they want to come out on top.
