Saturday’s match report: Twins 6, Cardinals 0
By Rob Rains
Sonny Gray has had a major problem with away pitching this season, and it bothered him and the Cardinals again on Saturday night in Minnesota.
Trevor Larnach hit two home runs, including a four-run three-run shot in the third inning that gave the Twins the win over the Cardinals.
The two home runs were the 19th.th and 20th Gray has allowed this season, the most he has ever allowed in his career. Sixteen of those 20 came in just 65 2/3 innings outside Busch Stadium.
Gray, who pitched for the Twins last season, saw the Cardinals’ offense struggle again when he was on the mound, scoring a total of two runs in his last three starts.
The loss dropped the Cardinals’ season record to 64-65, below .500.
This is how the game went on Saturday evening:
On the plate: The Cardinals failed to capitalize on two early scoring opportunities. A Nolan Arenado single and a one-out Lars Nootbaar double put runners on second and third base in the second inning, but Paul Goldschmidt and Pedro Pages struck out… In the third inning, Victor Scott II led off with a double and got to third on a bunt by Masyn Winn, but was then caught off base… Only two more runners reached the second 8 in the game, as Goldschmidt began the fifth inning with a double and when Winn advanced on a groundout after his single in the eighth inning… They didn’t concede a score for the fifth time this season.
On the hill: Gray struck out the team in his first inning and finished his six innings with seven strikeouts… The Twins hit a third home run in the eighth inning against Kyle Leahy.
Important statistics: Gray’s ERA in 11 road games this year is 5.62, and the 16 home runs he’s allowed as a guest are the most by an NL pitcher. By comparison, Gray has a 2.72 ERA in 13 games at Busch Stadium, where he’s allowed just four home runs in 76 innings.
Noteworthy: Willson Contreras was hit in the right hand by a pitch in the fourth inning. He finished the inning but was replaced in the sixth inning for a pinch hitter and imaging revealed he had broken a finger. He will likely be placed on the injured list on Sunday as Ivan Herrera returns to the team from Memphis. It was the 12th.th Time Contreras has been hit by a pitch this season…The Cardinals have had 0 of 7 hits with a runner in scoring position.
Outlook: Erick Fedde will start in the final game of the three-game series on Sunday.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
