By MATT PIKE
The St. Louis Cardinals scored runs late attempting to make a rally from being down big, avoiding a shutout, but still falling to the Arizona Diamondbacks to start the second half of the MLB season 7-3 on the road at Chase Field.
It didn't take long for the Cardinals to fall behind as they were down 5-0 after three innings. In the second inning, with two on and two outs, Jose Herrera singled home Adrian Del Castillo for the first run of the game. After Corbin Carroll walked to load the bases, Geraldo Perdomo hit a two RBI single to extend the lead driving in Alek Thomas and Herrera. In the third, Del Castillo brought home Josh Naylor, after his leadoff walk, with an RBI single. With one out, Thomas grounded out to Masyn Winn, but brought home Eugenio Suárez.
The Diamondbacks extended their lead in the fifth, an RBI double from Blaze Alexander driving in Del Castillo. Then in the seventh inning, Arizona added their final run of the game as Del Castillo grounded into a double play with no outs and the bases loaded, driving in Lourdes Gurriel Jr. putting the Diamondbacks up 7-0.
With a loss seeming more and more likely, the Cardinals were determined to avoid a shutout, Winn scoring the first run of the game after his leadoff single in the ninth on an RBI single by Pedro Pagés, Winn having advanced to second on a groundout by Jordan Walker. The final two runs for the Redbirds came on one swing as Victor Scott II hit a two run home run to right field.
Andre Pallante took the loss, falling to 5-6 on the season, pitching 4 2/3 innings and giving up six runs, five earned, on nine hits while walking two and striking out three. At the plate, Pagés was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Winn was also 2-for-4 on the day, while Scott II was 1-for-4 with the home run and two RBIs.
St. Louis and Arizona continue the second half tomorrow. Sonny Gray (9-3, 3.50 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Ryne Nelson (5-2, 3.68 ERA) for the Diamondbacks. First pitch is at 6:15, coverage will be joined around 6:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
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