Live-Blogging: St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds Game 2 09/01/2021

MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball’. Tonight, it is Game 2 of a doubleheader, between St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds.

Both NL Central teams are fighting with Padres and Phillies for the final National League Wild Card. Going into this game, Reds are a 0.5 game behind San Diego. And with the Cardinals Game 1 victory over Cincinnati, they are 1.5 games behind the Reds.

Tonight’s Starting Pitchers are left-hander J.A. Happ for the Cardinals and Sonny Gray for the Reds. Happ comes in with a strikeout/walk ratio of 2.50, 3.99 pitches/plate appearance, and 1.19 groundout/airout ratio. For Gray, he has a K/BB ratio of 3.02, 3.90 P/PA, and 1.43 GO/AO.

It is Game 2 of a doubleheader, between St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds Game 2 will be coming up shortly.


Starting Lineups:
St. Louis Cardinals:
1. Tommy Edman, 2B
2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
3. Tyler O’Neill, LF
4. Nolan Arenado, 3B
5. Dylan Carlson, RF
6. Yadier Molina, C
7. Paul DeJong, SS
8. Harrison Bader, CF
9. J.A. Happ, P

Cincinnati Reds:
1. Jonathon India, 2B
2. Tyler Stephenson, C
3. Nick Castellanos, RF
4. Joey Votto, 1B
5. Eduardo Suarez, 3B
6. Kyle Farmer, SS
7. Aristides Aquino, LF
8. Delino DeShields, CF
9. Sonny Gray, P

Cardinals are in their . While the Reds are in their alternate red jerseys and caps, with white pants.

Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Edman
2. Goldschmidt
3. O’Neill
Sonny Gray (RHP) now starting as Reds Pitcher.
MLB Scores:
First Pitch around 5:42 PM CDT.
HOME RUN: Edman hits a leadoff homer off Sonny Gray (3 pitches). STL 1, CIN 0
Goldschmidt grounds out to uarez (4 pitches). 1 out.
O'Neill grounds out to Farmer (2 pitches). 2 outs.
Arenado flies out to Votto (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Cardinals get a run, in their half of 1st Inning.


Middle of 1st Inning:
STL 1, CIN 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. India
2. Stephenson
3. Castellanos
J.A. Happ (LHP) now starting as Cardinals Pitcher.
India hits a lead-off double to left center field (2 pitches). Runner on 2nd.
Stephenson grounds out to Arneado (2 pitches). 1 out.
HOME RUN: Castellanos hits a 2-run homer off J.A. Happ (2 pitches). STL 1, CIN 2
​Votto draws a base on balls (6 pitches). Runner on 1st.
HOME RUN: Eugenio Suarez hits a 2-run homer off J.A. Happ (3 pitches).
UMPIRE REVIEW: Umpires reviewing the home run. Call reversed. Ground-Ruled Double. Votto goes to 3rd and Suarez goes to 2nd. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. STL 1, CIN 2
CARDINALS MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: STL 4, CIN 5
Farmer hits into the infield fly rule (2 pitches). 2 outs.
Aquino draws a bases loaded walk (6 pitches).
Deshields flies out to O'Neill (6 pitches). 3 outs.
Reds get a pair off the homer by Nick Castellanos.


End of 1st Inning:
STL 1, CIN 2

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
5 Carlson
6. Molina
7. DeJong
Gray currently at 14 pitches.
Carlson flies out to DeShields (2 pitches). 1 out.
Molina strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Last Month, I Live-Blogged Indians 9-3 Victory Over Reds
DeJong flies out to Votto (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Cardinals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
STL 1, CIN 2

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
9. Gray
1. India, 1-1
2. Stephenson
Happ currently at 30 pitches.
​Gray hits a lead-off single to right field (3 pitches). Runner on 1st.
India singles to left field (5 pitches). Gray advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Stephenson hits a bases loaded single to left field (4 pitches).
CARDINALS MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: STL 3, CIN 5
GRAND SLAM: Nick Castellanos hits a grand slam off J.A. Happ (4 pitches). Gray, India, and Stephenson score. STL 1, CIN 6
​Votto singles to left center field (6 pitches). Runner on 1st.
PITCHING CHANGE: Junior Fernandez (RHP) replaces J.A. Happ, as Cardinals Pitcher. Runner on 1st. STL 1, CIN 6
​Suarez strikes out swinging (7 pitches). 1 out.
HOME RUN: Farmer hits a 2-run homer off Junior Fernandez (3 pitches). Votto scores. STL 1, CIN 8
On a 3-1 count to Aquino, Junior Fernandez had to leave the game, for a possible injury.
PITHCING CHANGE: Daniel Ponce de Leon (RHP) replaces Junior Fernandez, as Cardinals Pitcher.
Aquino draws a base on balls (1 pitch for DPdL). Runner on 1st.
RBI-DOUBLE: DeShields hits an RBI-Double down left field line (8 pitches). Aquino scores. DeShields reaches 3rd on a throwing error by DeJong. Runner on 3rd. STL 1, CIN 9
Gray strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 2 outs.
India draws a base on balls (7 pitches). Runners on 1st & 3rd.
Stephenson fouls out to a leaping Tommy Edman (2 pitches). 3 outs.
Reds scored 7 runs, including a grand slam by Nick Castellanos.

End of 2nd Inning:
STL 1, CIN 9

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
8. Bader
9. Ponce de Leon?
1. Edman, 1-1, HR, RBI
Gray currently at 24 pitches.
MLB Scores:
Bader flies out to DeShields (7 pitches). 1 out.
Ponce de Leon gets called out on strikes (3 pitches). 2 outs.
Edman gets hit by a pitch (6 pitches). Runner on 1st.
Goldschmidt grounds into 6-4 fielder's choice (4 pitches). Edman is out at 2nd. 3 outs.


Middle of 3rd Inning:
STL 1, CIN 9

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
3. Castellanos, 2-2, 2 HR, 6 RBI
4. Votto, 1-1
5. Suarez 1-2
Ponce de Leon currently at 23 pitches.
Castellanos draws a base on balls (4 pitches). Runner on 1st.
Votto draws a base on balls (7 pitches). Castellanos moves to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Suarez reaches on a 5-4 fielder's choice (2 pitches). Votto is out at 2nd. Suarez is safe at 1st. Castellanos advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd. 1 out.
RBI-SACRIFICE-FLY: Farmer hits an RBI-Sac-Fly to O'Neill (5 pitches). Castellanos scores. Suarez moves to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 2 outs. STL 1, CIN 10
Aquino draws a base on balls (5 pitches). Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PITCHING CHANGE: Kodi Whitley (RHP) replaces Daniel Ponce de Leon, as Cardinals Pitcher. 2 outs. Runners on 1st & 2nd. STL 1, CIN 10
RBI-SINGLE: DeShields hits an RBI-Single to left field (2 pitches). Suarez scores. Aquino moves to 3rd. Deshields advances to 2nd, on the throw on Aquino. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. STL 1, CIN 11
Gray lines out to Bader (2 pitches). 3 outs.
Reds score 2 more runs, in their half of 3rd Inning.

End of 3rd Inning:
STL 1, CIN 11

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
3. O'Neill, 0-1
4. Arenado, 0-1
5. Carlson, 0-1
Gray currently at 44 pitches.
​O'Neill lines out to India (7 pitches). 1 out.
HOME RUN: Arenado hits a solo home run off Sonny Gray (6 pitches). STL 2, CIN 11
Carlson flies out to DeShields (1 pitch). 2 outs.
Molina grounds out to Farmer (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Arneado hits a solo homer, in the Cardinals Half of 4th Inning.


Middle of 4th Inning:
STL 2, CIN 11

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
1. India, 2-2
2. Stephenson, 1-3
3. Castellanos, 2-2, 2 HR, 6 RBI
​​Whitley currently at 4 pitches.
India gets called out on strikes (4 pitches). 1 out.
Stephenson flies out to Carlson (3 pitches). 2 outs.
Castellanos grounds out to Arneado (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Reds go down in order, for the first time in Game 2 of this doubleheader.


End of 4th Inning:
STL 2, CIN 11

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
7. DeJong, 0-1
8. Bader, 0-1
9. Whitley?
Gray currently at 63 pitches.
MLB Scores:
DeJong gets called out on strikes (4 pitches). 1 out.
Bader flies out to DeShields (6 pitches). 2 outs.
PINCH-HITTING: Matt Carpenter pinch-hitting for Kodi Whitley (2 pitches). 3 outs.
Cardinals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 5th Inning.

Middle of 5th Inning:
STL 2, CIN 11

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Votto, 1-1
5. Suarez, 1-3
6. Farmer, 1-2 HR, 3 RBI
​PITCHING CHANGE: Brandon Dickson (RHP) replaces Kodi Whitley, as Cardinals Pitcher.
DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTIONS: Ali Sanchez replaces Yadier Molina at catcher. Andrew Knizer replaces Paul Goldschmidt at first base. Jose Rondon replaces Nolan Arenado at third base.
Votto flies out to Bader (1 pitch). 1 out.
HOME RUN; Suarez hits a solo home run off Brandon Dickson (4 pitches). STL 2, CIN 12
Shish on Sports Mercy Rule is in effect for this 7-inning game.
Reds get a run off the homer by Suarez.

End of 5th Inning:
STL 2, CIN 12

Top of 6th Inning:
Jeff Hoffman came into the game, as Reds Pitcher. He retired the Cardinals Side, in the Top of 6th Inning.

Middle of 6th Inning:
STL 2, CIN 12

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Alex Reyes (RHP) replaces Brandon Dickson, as Cardinals Pitcher. Reds went down in order, in their half of 6th Inning.

End of 6th Inning:
STL 2, CIN 12

Top of 7th Inning:
Amir Garrett (LHP) replaces Jeff Hoffman, as Reds Pitcher. Cardinals strand a base runner to end Game 2.

Final:
STL 2 , CIN 12
STL: (68-64)
CIN: (72-63)
W: Gray (7-6)
L: Happ (8-7)
PoG: Castellanos (CIN) 2-3, 2 HR, 6 RBI
ToG: 2:48

Final Thoughts:
This game was decided in the Bottom of 2nd Inning. When the Reds scored 7 runs, including a grand slam by Nick Castellanos.

For the Cardinals, their pitching was struggling to get the Reds out, in this nightcap of the doubleheader. Their only offense, were two solo homers by Tommy Edman and Nolan Arenado.

With the win, Reds are now back in the 2nd NL Wild Card by a 0.5 game, over San Diego Padres.

Cardinals will head to Milwaukee, to face the Brewers, This Weekend. While the Reds will host Detroit Tigers on this Labor Day Weekend.

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