After scoring 36 runs during a six-game span, the St. Louis Cardinals suffered an offensive lull during their 5-1 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday.
They rebounded Saturday by scoring 16 runs on 24 hits while completing a sweep of a doubleheader. The Cardinals will try to carry that offense into the finale of the four-game set against the Cubs on Sunday. The game is the teams’ last before the All-Star break.
“We want to finish strong and (Sunday) is a big day,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said.
The Cardinals offense got into gear with a nine-run first inning in Game 1 Saturday, which propelled St. Louis to an 11-3 win.
“The reset was good,” Marmol said. “(Friday) was a tough one offensively. We came out of the gates, they made some mistakes, but also we had a good approach taking advantage of it.”
In Game 2, Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras each belted a solo homer in the first inning and Nolan Arenado added a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth as the Cardinals rallied for a 5-4 win.
St. Louis on Sunday will start Miles Mikolas (7-7, 4.88 ERA), who made a key midseason adjustment by lowering his arm angle while pitching.
Mikolas has allowed just two runs on 11 hits in 12 1/3 innings over his last two starts after yielding 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits during an 11-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on June 27.
The right-hander earned a 2-1 victory over Chicago on June 16 while allowing one run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked none.
On May 25, Mikolas didn’t get a decision in the Cardinals’ 7-6 victory over the Cubs. He allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in six innings.
Mikolas is 6-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 22 career appearances against Chicago, including 19 starts.
The Cubs will close the series with right-hander Jameson Taillon (6-4, 2.99 ERA), who has also been pitching well.
Taillon has won his two starts this month while posting a 2.77 ERA. He allowed four runs on eight hits in 13 innings in those games while striking out 14 batters and walking just one.
Taillon has faced St. Louis twice this season. He allowed three runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings on May 25, striking out three and walking one.
Taillon shouldered the loss on June 16 after permitting two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three in six innings.
The eight-year veteran is 5-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 14 career starts against the Cardinals.
Chicago shuffled its bullpen Saturday after putting Luke Little (shoulder strain) on the 15-day injured list.
“We’ll learn more over the All-Star break,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “But, you know, it’s a shoulder injury, likely some kind of shoulder injury, and that’s, obviously, concerning for a pitcher.”
Chicago recalled reliever Ethan Roberts early on Saturday from Triple-A Iowa. Roberts returned to Iowa after pitching in the first game of the doubleheader and was replaced by Daniel Palencia for the nightcap.
St. Louis center fielder Michael Siani exited the first game on Saturday with an elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch. He didn’t play in the nightcap and is questionable for Sunday’s contest.
–Field Level Media
