ST. LOUIS — A dizzying swirl of events, some unexpected and some just outright improvised, carried the Cardinals through the Dodgers’ gauntlet to the most dazzling victory of the season.
The Cardinals got home runs from the oldest and youngest players on the roster, three RBIs from a catcher who had not had an RBI in almost a month, and a daring escape by a pitcher who has spent his season shuttling back to the minors. And even then LA had one more swing up its sleeve.
Andrew Knizner’s third RBI single of the game gave the Cardinals the cushion needed to withstand Freddie Freeman’s ninth-inning leadoff homer. Giovanny Gallegos piloted out of trouble in the ninth to cement the 7-6 victory Tuesday at Busch Stadium. It was a win greater than the sum of its parts, but it needed it every part – from Albert Pujols’ homer to start the scoring to Nolan Gorman’s homer to extend the lead. And most of all lefty Packy Naughton’s escape with the bases loaded, no outs, and the tying run at third in the seventh inning.
