All of the top players of the St. Louis Cardinals were injured against the Chicago Cubs in Saturday afternoon’s game — or so it seems.
The St. Louis Cardinals had plenty to celebrate after Saturday afternoon’s 8-6 come from behind win against the Chicago Cubs, clinching a series victory against their hated in-division rivals — doing so in dramatic fashion.
Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the late-inning heroics of Marcel Ozuna and Kolten Wong sent the St. Louis Cardinals faithful into a frenzy. They did so without the talents of Yadier Molina, Tommy Pham, and Bud Norris, who all left the game due to injury — with their teammates stepping up in their absence.
What a game for the Birds on the Bat, who finally found a way to beat the Chicago Cubs, after losing to them last season when it mattered most — costing them a trip to the MLB Postseason.
Kolten Wong hits a mammoth walk-off shot and the #STLCards win! pic.twitter.com/J3odbahg8p
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 5, 2018
How long will the St. Louis Cardinals be without this trifecta of players, ones they’ll need if they want to contend in October.
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According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Cardinals future catcher Carson Kelly was a late scratch from the Memphis Redbirds lineup, hinting that he’ll get some playing time — meaning that Yadier Molina will miss some time.
Injuries sustained to the St. Louis Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs:
- Tommy Pham: (Reoccurring) groin injury.
- Bud Norris: Right-triceps injury
- Yadier Molina: Groin injury — 102 MPH pitch fouled off by Chicago Cubs Kris Bryant
All three St. Louis Cardinals players will be reevaluated today, hopefully, with some good news for the Arch City faithful. Over the past few years, the Redbirds have adopted the next man up mentality — with a resilient toughness that Mike Matheny expressed to Derrick Goold:
"“You have your leadoff guy and center fielder come off, and then your backbone behind the plate, and then the guy who has been pitching your ninth. Those are some key trips to the mound to take guys out. Not ideal. I see this as a group that is not going to use excuses. (They’re) just going to keep playing the game.”"
Indeed they did keep playing, earning a victory that sets a new tone within the National League Central — that the St. Louis Cardinals are here to stay and not going anywhere.
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Hopefully, they won’t have to keep “playing the game” without the likes of Tommy Pham, Yadier Molina, and Bud Norris for much longer. If so, player lobbying for MLB playing time, such as; Harrison Bader, Greg Holland, and Carson Kelly will have their chance to impress.