Paul Goldschmidt Makes History with 2,000th Career Hit in Cardinals Loss
In a thrilling game that went into extra innings, Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals made history by hitting his 2,000th career hit in the bottom of the 10th. However, despite this milestone, it was not enough to secure a win for the Cardinals as they fell to the Washington Nationals.
The game started off strong for the Cardinals, with Goldschmidt’s two-run homer in the third inning giving them a 5-2 lead. They extended their lead to 6-3 in the fourth inning, thanks to a solid performance by pitcher Sonny Gray.
But things took a turn for the worse in the later innings. Gray struggled to maintain his lead, allowing the Nationals to come back and tie the game. Meanwhile, the Cardinals offense was held to just two hits between the fifth and ninth innings, leaving Goldschmidt’s historic hit as the only highlight for the team.
Despite the loss, Goldschmidt’s achievement cannot be overlooked. The first baseman has been a consistent and valuable player for the Cardinals since joining the team in 2019. With this milestone, he joins an elite group of players who have reached 2,000 career hits.
As the Cardinals continue their season, they will look to bounce back from this tough loss and continue to rely on Goldschmidt’s strong performance at the plate. But for now, the focus remains on his incredible accomplishment and the impact he has made on the team and the league as a whole. ira has been suspended for 72 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance
Paul Goldschmidt Hits 2,000th Career Hit with a Two-Run Homer in the 10th, But Cardinals Fall to Nationals in Extra Innings
ST. LOUIS – In a game that saw the Cardinals offense come alive against lefthanded starter Mackenzie Gore, it was ultimately the Nationals’ bullpen that sealed the win in extra innings at Busch Stadium on Friday night.
Despite taking leads of 5-2 and 6-3 in the early innings, the Cardinals were unable to hold off the Nationals’ late surge, resulting in a 6-6 tie going into the 10th inning. The Nationals then capitalized on a bases-loaded triple from ninth-place hitter Jacob Young, securing a four-run inning and ultimately the win in the first game of a three-game series.
Offense Breakdown
The Cardinals’ offense was led by Masyn Winn and Nolan Arenado, who both hit home runs in the third inning. Pedro Pages also extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the fourth, but the team was held to just two hits between the fifth and ninth innings.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the 10th that Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer, marking his 2,000th career hit. However, it was not enough to overcome the Nationals’ lead and only served to reduce the final margin of the game.
Pitching Struggles
The Cardinals’ pitchers struggled with control, issuing a total of eight walks throughout the game. Sonny Gray, who struck out the side in the first inning, gave up two runs in the second, one in the third, and two in the fifth. Former Cardinal Juan Yepez had a strong performance for the Nationals, with three hits and a sacrifice fly, driving in two runs and scoring twice.
The Nationals, who were no-hit in their previous game, had 18 at-bats with a runner in scoring position and also stole five bases in the game. Ryan Helsley pitched the ninth inning for the Cardinals, but a leadoff walk and a caught stealing attempt ultimately led to the Nationals’ victory.
Key Stats and Notes
In four starts in July, Gray has allowed 32 hits and 18 runs in 24 innings, resulting in an ERA of 6.75. Top prospect Tink Hence is scheduled to start for Double A Springfield on Saturday night, after not pitching since June 23 due to injury.
Additionally, Cardinals’ minor leaguer Kener Pereira has been suspended for 72 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, according to Major League Baseball.
There is currently no update on when Tommy Edman will begin playing in the outfield during his minor-league rehab assignment. He has been limited to the designated hitter role thus far.
