Cardinals Stay Alive, Cut Braves Wild-Card Lead to Two
By Editorial Staff
St. Louis fans should send Carlos Marmol a gift basket this morning. Or at least a thank you card.
I might get in trouble if I’d say what Braves fans are considering sending the Cubs closer.
With last night’s come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Cubs, the St. Louis Cardinals were able to reduce the Atlanta Braves wild-card lead to two games. Atlanta failed to keep its cushion, falling to the Washington Nationals and again giving the Cardinals life.
Cubs pitchers had stymied the Cardinals offense all night. Marmol entered the contest in the 9th, looking to make a first inning run hold up and in turn collecting his 35th save of the season.
Instead, Marmol decided to get a little wild. OK, more than a little wild.
In his 0.2 innings of ‘work’, Marmol walked more batters than both sides combined to walk over the previous 17 frames. In very Marmol-like fashion, the closer walked in the tying run before sending Cardinals fans home happy with one of his vintage wild pitches.
A loss would have all but eliminated St. Louis from playoff contention. Instead, the gift-wrapped victory gives them a pulse. It will still be quite a feat, but with four games remaining anything’s possible.
Atlanta has to face Washington once more before ending its season with a three game set against the Phillies. While Philadelphia has been struggling of late, one would think they will look to ramp things up a bit with the playoffs approaching. The Braves also cannot be looking forward to the fact that they are scheduled to face Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in two of the three games.
St. Louis faces what should be a far easier final week. The Cardinals will play one more against the Cubs before ending the season in Houston.
For more on the Cardinals and Braves, be sure to check out Redbird Rants and Tomahawk Take.