Pallante Dominates as Cardinals Defeat Twins 6-1
In a dominant performance, Andre Pallante retired 17 of the last 18 batters he faced over seven strong innings, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. The Cardinals’ offense was also firing on all cylinders, with Lars Nootbaar’s tiebreaking two-run double in the fourth inning and Brendan Donovan’s homer contributing to the win.
Pallante, who recently made his major league debut, showed his prowess on the mound as he shut down the Twins’ batters. Nootbaar’s timely hit in the fourth inning gave the Cardinals the lead, and they never looked back. Masyn Wynn also had a strong showing with two RBIs, while Luken Baker drew three of the nine walks by the Cardinals.
This win marks the third straight for the Cardinals, who have been on a roll since falling 12 games behind the NL Central leader Milwaukee on Tuesday. With this victory, they are inching closer to closing that gap and making a push for the top spot in the division.
The Cardinals’ strong performance on both offense and defense is a promising sign for the team as they continue their season. With players like Pallante and Nootbaar stepping up, the Cardinals are proving to be a formidable force in the league. Keep an eye on this team as they make their way towards the top of the standings. assignments for right-hander Michael Pineda (oblique strain) and left-hander Devin Smeltzer (elbow inflammation).
Twins Update: Pallante Dominates as Cardinals Defeat Twins 6-1
MINNEAPOLIS – In a dominant performance, Andre Pallante retired 17 of the last 18 batters he faced over seven strong innings, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. The Cardinals’ win marks their third straight after falling 12 games behind the NL Central leader Milwaukee earlier this week.
Strong Pitching and Timely Hitting Lead to Cardinals’ Victory
Pallante (6-6) completed seven innings for the second consecutive start, a career first for the 25-year-old. He left the bases loaded after one run scored with one out in the second inning and never let another runner reach scoring position. The Twins struggled to get anything going against Pallante, resulting in their fourth loss in their last five games.
Twins Struggle to Keep Pace in AL Central Race
Minnesota began a nine-game homestand tied with Kansas City in second place in the AL Central, two games behind leader Cleveland. However, with this loss, the Twins now find themselves 3 1/2 games behind Boston for the final wild-card spot.
Rookies Step Up for Cardinals
The Cardinals’ offense was led by Brendan Donovan, who homered, and Masyn Wynn, who had two RBIs. Luken Baker also drew three of nine walks by the Cardinals, who have been on a hot streak lately. The team has been able to rely on their rookies, including Pallante, to help them stay in the playoff race.
Twins Struggle to Find Consistency in Starting Rotation
Twins starter David Festa (2-3) lasted only 3 2/3 innings and left trailing 3-1. The 13th-round draft pick in 2021 out of Seton Hall has helped stabilize the back of the rotation, but has yet to make it to the sixth inning. The Twins will need more consistency from their starting pitchers if they hope to make a push for the playoffs.
Injuries Continue to Plague Twins
The Twins were without center fielder Byron Buxton (hip inflammation) and shortstop Carlos Correa (plantar fasciitis) in this game. Both players are continuing through a rehabilitation program to get them as healthy as possible for the stretch run. Manager Rocco Baldelli said both players were progressing. The Twins also started Triple-A rehab assignments for right-hander Michael Pineda (oblique strain) and left-hander Devin Smeltzer (elbow inflammation).
Target Field Proves to be a Tough Venue for Cardinals
The Cardinals played just their seventh regular season game at Target Field, which is open for its 15th season. The only active ballparks they’ve played at less frequently are Yankee Stadium, which opened in New York in 2009, and Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020 in Texas. Despite the limited experience at Target Field, the Cardinals were able to come out with a win.
Up Next
The Cardinals will look to continue their winning streak as they face the Twins again on Saturday. The Twins will need to bounce back and find some consistency in order to stay in the playoff race. It will be an exciting game to watch as both teams fight for a spot in the postseason.
