St. Louis Cardinals Defense Implodes as Chicago Cubs Avoid Sweep Sunday

The St. Louis Cardinals fans have learned that there are two different potential versions of Matthew Liberatore this season. Sunday, the Cardinals got parts of both versions as the Chicago Cubs jumped on his wildness early, but he settled down later. The problem would arise out of the Cardinals bullpen and defense when all was said and done.

Matthew Liberatore‘s performance on Sunday looked a lot worse by using the eye test compared to the actual damage on the scoreboard. It all started in the bottom of the first inning when the Cub we all love to despise (because hate is such a strong word), PCA, reached on an infield single and then stole second. Alex Bregman followed that with a double to center which scored the loser from second giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead. Liberatore then struck out Suzuki, but then walked Carson Kelly and hit Michael Busch with a pitch (this would become a theme for Matthew Sunday) to load the bases. Nico Hoerner lifted a sacrifice fly to Jordan Walker in right who almost threw out Bregman at home, but almost doesn’t count so it was 2-0 Cubs. That was all Chicago would get out of that bases loaded opportunity.

Matthew Liberatore hit 3 batters during his time in the game with the most painful probably being PCA getting nailed on the fleshy part of his left arm. He winced in pain on the ground for several minutes, but probably didn’t cry although many of us who are confirmed Cardinals fans imagined he did. I personally am never in favor of a player getting injured, but Crow whatever appeared to be fine when all was said and done.

If you’re thinking that I’m not mentioning much about the Cardinals offense, it’s because there was really nothing special to include over the first 5 innings. That changed big time in the top of the 6th inning when Jordan Walker proved why he deserves to be an All-Star. JJ Wetherholt started off the inning by being JJ Wetherholt and getting on base with a single. Two batters later, Alec Burleson singled giving the Cardinals runners at first and second with Jordan Walker coming to the plate. The Cubs changed pitchers, but it didn’t matter squat and Jordan crushed a weak 82 mph sweeper and gave it a ride way up into the left field stands immediately correcting most of what is wrong in the world by giving the Cardinals their first Sunday lead at 3-2. BOOM!

Just as I and the rest of Cardinals Nation were preparing to throw a “we just swept the Cubs” party, the wheels came off for St. Louis in the bottom of the 6th inning which really felt like it went on FOREVER. It began with Matthew Liberatore walking Carson Kelly and then surrendering a single to Michael Busch. Credit to Liberatore for getting that deep into the game as he really pulled himself together after a very shaky start. Matt Svanson entered the game and immediately gave up the lead as Nico Hoerner smacked a single to right scoring Carson Kelly and tying the game at 3-3. After Ian Happ popped out for the first out, the Cardinals defense collapsed. Dansby Swanson grounded to José Fermín at third who instead of starting an inning-ending double play, threw the ball into right field scoring Busch and giving the Cubs a 4-3 lead and the Cards defense was just beginning to defeat itself. The next batter Ramirez lifted a sacrifice fly to Jordan Walker in right who tried (key word) to throw out Dansby Swanson at third, but instead threw wildly which allowed both runners to score giving the Cubs a stupid 6-3 lead.

The Cardinals would scratch and claw to get one run back in the top of the 8th inning when JJ Wetherholt led off with his second hit of the game. Iván Herrera grounded out to second which moved JJ up a base. Alec Burleson then singled to right as Wetherholt advanced to third. That brought up Jordan Walker who unfortunately did not provide an encore 3-run homer to tie the game, but did hit a sacrifice fly to center just deep enough for JJ to score from third making it 6-4 Cubs going into the bottom of the 8th inning.

Ryan Fernandez deserves credit for keeping the Cubs from adding to their lead anymore than they already had by getting the Cardinals into the top of the 9th inning with at least a chance. Would the Cardinals stage a never say die comeback win in the 9th? Well, Masyn Winn drew a walk to lead off the inning, but then Nathan Church popped out to the catcher for the first out. José Fermín then struck out for the second out. That left former Cub Nelson Velázquez as the Cardinals last hope. He unfortunately lined out to Dansby Swanson for the final out. Bummer.

The St. Louis Cardinals begin a brutal 5-game series over just 4 days against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday night at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals will give the ball to Dustin May while the Brewers will assign Shane Drohan the starting duties. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm central time and the game TV broadcast will be available on Cardinals.tv.