By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Louis Cardinals dropped a second game in a row in extra innings, falling to the Los Angeles Angels 9-7 in 11 innings at Busch Stadium on Tuesday night
After the Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, and RBI single by Jordan Walker scoring Nolan Gorman, the Angels put up a three spot in the third inning to take lead away. A double by Luis Rengifo scored Tim Anderson to tie the game. Later in the inning a Mike Trout double drove in Taylor Ward And Rengifo to give the Angels a 3-1 lead.
Walker homered in the fourth inning for St. Louis to cut the lead for Los Angeles to one, a lead that was held until the eighth inning, when the Cardinals benefited from an Angels fielding error, Nolan Arenado reaching first on a throwing error by Nolan Schanuel that allowed Lars Nootbaar to score. The game remained tied, and for a second straight day, went into extra innings.
Los Angeles took the lead back in the top half of the tenth inning, putting up another three run inning. Schanuel drove in Kyren Paris and Yoan Moncada with a triple. Schanuel came around to score on a single by Jo Adell. Unlike Monday though, the Cardinals put together a rally to tie the game back up. A two RBI double by Luken Baker scored Victor Scott II and Masyn Winn. Pinch runner Michael Siani came around later to score on a single by Arenado.
The St. Louis bullpen surrendered three more runs in the 11th inning. Paris singled to score Anderson. In the very next at bat, Moncada doubled, driving in Trout and Paris. In the bottom half, the Cardinals managed just an RBI single by Scott II that scored Iván Herrera.
Chris Roycroft took the loss in relief for St. Louis, giving up three runs, two earned in one inning, surrendering two hits and walking one. In his first start of the season, Matthew Liberatore pitched six innings, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out four.
Nootbaar (2-6) and Walker (2-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI) led the way hitting for the Cardinals in the loss.
St. Louis and Los Angeles wrap up their series tomorrow. Sonny Gray will start for the Cardinals against Yusei Kikuchi for the Angels as the Redbirds look to avoid a sweep. KY 102 (102.5 FM) will begin coverage at 12:05 with first pitch at 12:15.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.