Live-Blogging: 2019 NLDS Game 1: St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves 10/03/2019

NLDS Game 1: St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves 10/03/2019

Hello and welcome to another edition of ‘Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball’. This Afternoon It is Game 1 of the National League Division Series, between St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. The Cardinals are this year’s National League Central Division Champions, while the Braves have taken the East.

This Afternoon’s Starting Pitchers are right-hander Miles Mikolas for the Cardinals and left-hander Dallas Keuchel for the Braves. Mikolas comes in with a K/BB ratio of 4.50, while averaging 3.75 P/PA. Meanwhile Keuchel, comes in with a K/BB ratio of 2.33, while averaging 3.83 P/PA.

It is St. Louis Cardinals taking on Atlanta Braves, Game 1 of the National League Division Series, coming up shortly.

Starting Lineups:
St. Louis Cardinals:
​1. Dexter Fowler, RF
2. Tommy Edman, 3B
3. Paul Goldscmidt, 1B
4. Marcell Ozuna, LF
5. Yadier Molina, C
​6. Paul DeJong, SS
7. Kolten Wong, 2B
8. Harrison Bader, CF
​9. Miles Mikolas, P
​
Atlanta Braves:
1. Ronald Acuna, Jr., CF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
​3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Josh Donaldson, 3B
5. Nick Markakis, LF
6. Matt Joyce, RF
7. Brian McCann, C
8. Dansby Swanson, SS
9. Dallas Keuchel, P

Cardinals are in their traveling gray uniforms, with red caps. While the Braves are in their home white uniforms, with navy caps with red bills.

Top of 1st Inning:
1. Fowler
2. Edman
3. Goldschmidt
Dallas Keuchel now starting as Braves Pitcher
​First Pitch around 4:03 p.m. CDT. 
Fowler grounds out to Albeis. 1 out.
Edman grounds out to Swanson. 2 outs.
Goldschmidt grounds out to Swanson. 3 outs.
Cardinals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning.

Middle of 1st Inning:
STL 0, ATL 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Acuna
2. Albies
3. Freeman
Miles Mikolas starting as Braves Pitcher.
Acuna draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
With Albies at-bat, Acuna gets caught stealing by Molina. Molina to DeJong. 1 out.
Albeis draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Freeman singles to left field. Albies advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
Donaldson reaches first base on throwing error by Wong. Albeis scores. Donaldson gets  an RBI. STL 0, ATL 1
CARDINALS MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: STL 4, ATL 5
Dakota Hudson (RHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen.
Markakis flies out to Ozuna. 2 outs.
Joyce flies out to Ozuna. 3 outs.
Braves get a run, but strand a couple of baserunners.

End of 1st Inning:
STL 0, ATL 1

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Ozuna
5. Molina
6. DeJong
Keuchel currently at 11 pitches.
Ozuna grounds out to Keuchel. 1 out.
Molina lines out to Joyce. 2 outs.
DeJong with a 2-out single. Runner on 1st.
Wong lines out to a silding Acuna. 3 outs.
Cardinals strand a base runner.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
STL 0, ATL 1

Bottom of 2nd Inning;
Due Up:
7. McCann
8. Swanson
9. Keuchel
​Mikolas currently at 27 pitches.
McCann doubles to left center field. Runner on 2nd.
Swanson flies out to Fowler. 1 out.
Keuchel reaches on 1-5 fielder's choice. McCann is out at 3rd. Runner on 1st. 2 outs.
CARDINALS MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: STL 3, ATL 5
Acuna flies out to Bader. 3 outs.
Braves strand a base runner.

End of 2nd Inning:
STL 0, ATL 1

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
8. Bader
9. Mikolas?
1. Fowler, 0-1
Keuchel currently at 20 pitches.
​Bader grounds out to Swanson. 1 out.
Mikolas hits a ground-ruled double to left center field. Runner on 2nd.
Fowler draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
DOUBLE PLAY: Edman grounds into 5-3 double play. 3 outs.
Cardinals strand a base runner.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
STL 0, ATL 1

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
2. Albies, 0-0
3. Freeman, 1-1
4. Donaldson, 0-1, RBI
​Mikolas currently at 40 pitches.
Albies grounds out to Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt to Mikolas. 1 out.
Freeman strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Donaldson grounds out to Edman. 3 outs
Braves go down 1-2-3, in their half of 3rd Inning.

End of 3rd Inning;
STL 0, ATL 1

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Goldschmidt, 0-1
4. Ozuna, 0-1
5. Molina, 0-1
Keuchel currently at 40 pitches.
​Goldschmidt doubles to left field. Runner on 2nd.
BRAVES MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: STL 3, ATL 4
Ozuna draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
BRAVES MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: STL 3, ATL 3
Luke Jackson (RHP) warming up in  Braves Bullpen.
DOUBLE PLAY: Molina grounds into 5-3 double play. Goldschmidt is out at 3rd. Ozuna advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 2 outs.
After a 3-0 count to DeJong, Braves elect to intentionally pass the Cardinals Shortstop. Runners on 1st & 2nd. 
Wong grounds out to Albies. 3 outs.
Cardinals strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 4th Inning:
STL 0, ATL 1

Bottom of 4th Inning;
Due Up:
5. Markakis, 0-1
6. Joyce, 0-1
7. McCann, 1-1
Mikolas currently at 50 pitches.
​Markakis strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Joyce grounds out to Edman. 2 outs.
McCann grounds out to Wong. 3 outs.
Braves go down 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning.

End of 4th Inning:
STL 0, ATL 1

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Bader, 0-1
9. Mikolas?
1. Fowler, 0-1
Keuchel currently at 60 pitches.
​Bader hits an infield single to third base. Runner on 1st. 
Mikolas sacrifice bunts to Keuchel. Keuchel to Albies. Bader advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 1 out.
With Fowler at-bat, Bader steals 3rd Bse. No throw by Keuchel nor McCann. Runner on 3rd. 
Fowler hits an RBI-Groundout to Albies. Bader scores. STL 1, ATL 1
Edman doubles to left field. Runner on 2nd.
PITCHING CHANGE: Darren O'Day (RHP) replaces Dallas Keuchel, as Braves Pitcher.
Goldschmidt lines out to a diving Swanson. 3 outs.
Cardinals get a run, but strand a run, in their half of 5th Inning.

Middle of 5th Inning:
STL 1, ATL 1

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Swanson, 0-1
9. O'Day?
1. Acuna, 0-1
Mikolas currently at 64 pitches.
​Swanson grounds out to DeJong. 1 out.
PINCH-HITTING: Rafael Ortega pinch-hitting for Darren O'Day. 
Shane Greene (RHP) warming up in Braves Bullpen.
Ortega pops out to Fowler. 2 outs.
Acuna doubles to left center field. Runner on 2nd.
Tyler Webb (LHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen.
CARDINALS MOUND VISIT #3: MVR: STL 2, ATL 3
Albies pops out to Goldschmidt. 3 outs.
Braves strand a base runner.

End of 5th Inning:
STL 1, ATL 1

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Ozuna, 0-1
5. Molina, 0-2
6. DeJong, 1-1
PITCHING CHANGE: Shane Greene (RHP) replaces Darren O'Day, as Braves Pitcher.
​Ozuna doubles down left field line. Runner on 2nd.
Molina grounds out to Swanson. Ozuna advances to 3rd. Runner on 3rd. 1 out.
DeJong pops out to Swanson. 2 outs.
Max Fried (LHP) warming up in Braves Bullpen. 
Braves elect to intentionally pass on Wong. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
Bader fouls out to Freeman. 3 outs.
Cardinals strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 6th Inning:
STL 1, ATL 1

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Freeman, 1-2
4. Donaldson, 0-2, RBI
5. Markakis, 0-2
PITCHING CHANGE: Tyler Webb (LHP) replaces Miles Mikolas, as Cardinals Pitcher.
Freeman grounds out to Edman. 1 out.
Giovanny Gallegos (RHP) and John Brebbia (RHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen. 
Donaldson gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
Markakis doubles over Goldschmidt's head and down right field line. Donaldson advances to 3rd. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. 
PINCH-HITTING: Adam Duval pinch-hitting for Matt Joyce.
Cardinals elect to intentionally pass to Duval. Bases Loaded.
PINCH-HITTING: Francisco Cervelli pinch-hitting Brian McCann.
PITCHING CHANGE: Giovanny Gallegos (RHP) replaces Tyler Webb, as Cardinals Pitcher.
Cervelli strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Max Fried (LHP) warming up in Braves Bullpen.
CARDINALS MOUND VISIT #4: MVR: STL 1, ATL 3
Swanson reaches on a fielding error by Edman. Duval advances to 2nd, on the throwing error by DeJong. Donaldson and Markakis score. Runners on 1st & 2nd. STL 1, ATL 3
PINCH-HITTING: Adeiny Hechavarria  pinch-hitting for Shane Greene. 
Hechavarria strikes out swinging. 3 outs.


End of 6th Inning:
STL 1, ATL 3

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Gallegos?
1. Fowler, 0-2, RBI
2. Edman, 1-3
Max Fried (LHP) replaces Shane Greene, as Braves Pitcher.
DEFENSIVE SWITCHES: Francisco Cervelli stays in the game, to play catcher. Adam Duval stays in the game, playing left field. Nick Markakis moves from left to right field. 
​PINCH-HITTING: Jose Martinez pinch-hitting for Giovanny Gallegos.
C. Martin (RHP) warming up in Braves Bullpen.
Martinez strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Fowler gets called out on strikes. 2 outs.
Edman grounds out to Albies. 3 outs.
Cardinals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

Middle of 7th Inning:
STL 1, ATL 3

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Acuna, 1-2
2. Albies, 0-2
3. Freeman, 1-3
​PITCHING CHANGE: John Brebbia (RHP) replaces Giovanny Gallegos, as Cardinals Pitcher.
Acuna singles to right field wall. Runner on 1st.
Andrew Miller (LHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen.
Albies grounds out to Wong. Acuna advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 1 out.
PITCHING CHANGE: Andrew Miller (LHP) replaces John Brebbia, as Cardinals Pitcher.
​Freeman gets hit by a pitch. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
DOUBLE PLAY: Donaldson lines into 6-4 double play. Acuna is out at 2nd. 3 outs.
Braves strand a base runner.

End of 7th Inning:
STL 1, ATL 3

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Goldschmidt, 1-3
4. Ozuna, 1-2
5. Molina, 0-3
PITCHING CHANGE: Chris Martin (RHP) replaces Max Fried, as Braves Pitcher.
​PITCHING CHANGE: Luke Jackson (RHP) replaces Chris Martin, as Braves Pitcher. Martin left the game, with an oblique injury.
HOME RUN: Goldschmidt hits a solo home run to left field. STL 2, ATL
Ozuna strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Molina grounds out to Donaldson. 2 outs.
DeJong singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Mark Melancon (RHP) warming up in Braves Bullpen.
Wong singles to left field. DeJong advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PITCHING CHANGE: Mark Melancon (RHP) replaces Luke Jackson, as Braves Pitcher.
​Cabrera (LHP) and Martinez (RHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen.
PINCH-HITTING: Matt Carpenter pinch-hitting for Harrison Bader.
BRAVES MOUND VISIT #3: STL 1, ATL 2
RBI-SINGLE: Carpenter hits an RBI-Single. Wong is thrown out at home by the throw by Duval. Duval to Cervelli. DeJong scores. STL 3, ATL 3
Cardinals get 2 runs, in their half of 8th Inning.

Middle of 8th Inning:
STL 3, ATL 3

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Markakis, 1-3
6. Duvall, 0-0
7. Cervelli, 0-1
Miller currently at 10 pitches.
DEFENSIVE SWITCHES: Matt Carpenter stays in the game, to play third base. Tommy Edman moves from 3rd Base to right field. While Dexter Fowler moves from right to center field. 
Markakis flies out to Ozuna. 1 out.
PITCHING CHANGE: Ryan Helsley (RHP) replaces Andrew Miller, as Cardinals Pitcher.
Duval singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Carlos Martinez (RHP) returns to warm up in Cardinals Bullpen. 
Sean Newcomb (LHP) warming up in Braves Bullpen.
Cervelli grounds out to DeJong. Duval advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 
DOUBLE SWITCH: Carlos Martinez (RHP) replaces Ryan Helsley, as Cardinals Pitcher. Martinez will bat 8th, in the Cardinals Lineup. While Randy Arozarena comes in to play center field, batting 9th. Tommy Edman moves from right field to 3rd Base. While Dexter Fowler moves from center to right field. 
Swanson strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Braves strand a base runner.

End of 8th Inning:
STL 3, ATL 3

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Arozarena
1. Fowler, 0-3, RBI
2. Edman, 1-4
​Melancon currently at 9 pitches.
Arozarena grounds out to Swanson. 1 out.
Fowler singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Edman singles to right field. Fowler advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
BRAVES MOUND VISIT #4: MVR: STL 1, ATL 1
Goldschmidt draws a base on balls. Bases Loaded.
Josh Tomlin (RHP) warming up in Braves Bullpen.
RBI-DOUBLE: Ozuna hits a 2-run double to left field line. Fowler and Edman score. Goldschmidt advances to 3rd. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. STL 5, ATL 3
Braves elect to intentionally pass on Molina. 
DeJong strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
RBI-DOUBLE: Wong hits a 2-run double to right field line. Goldschmidt and Ozuna score. STL 7, ATL 3
​PITCHING CHANGE: Sean Newcomb (LHP) replaces Mark Melancon, as Braves Pitcher.
C. Martinez strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Cardinals get 4 runs, off a pair of doubles by Ozuna and Wong.

Middle of 9th Inning:
STL 7, ATL 3

Bottom of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Newcomb?
1. Acuna, 2-3
2. Albies, 0-3
C. Martinez currently at 4 pitches.
PITCHING CHANGE: Billy Hamilton pinch-hitting for Sean Newcomb.
Hamilton draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
HOME RUN: Acuna hits a 2-run homer to left center field. Hamilton scores. STL 7, ATL 5
​CARDINALS FINAL MOUND VISIT: MVR: STL 0, ATL 2
Albies grounds out to Edman? 
MANAGER'S CHALLENGE: Snitker challenging call on first base. Albies is out at 1st. Call Stands. 1 out.
HOME RUN: Freeman hits a solo home to center field. STL 7, ATL 6
​Donaldson grounds out to Wong. 2 outs.
Markakis gets called out on strikes. 3 outs.
Braves score 3 runs, to end the game. 

Final:
STL 7, ATL 6
STL leads series 1-0
W: C. Martinez (1-0)
L: Melancon (0-1)
PoG: Ozuna (STL) 2-4, 2 RBI, GW 2-run double in 9th. 
ToG: 4:07

Final Thoughts:
What looked like a rough defensive game by the Cardinals turn into a collapse by the Braves. The Collapse began in the Bottom of 7th Inning, when Ronald Acuna, Jr. watched his fly ball turn into a long single. Then in the same inning, he ran to third and was caught in a double play. 

Then when you add that with Chris Martin leaving the game before his first pitch, with an oblique injury. Then the Braves Bullpen continued the collapse. The Cardinals scored 6 runs in the last two innings of the game. Now the Cardinals will go into tomorrow's game up 1-0, with Jack Flaherty going in Game 2. 

The Braves will throw Mike Foltynewicz, tomorrow afternoon. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.