Cardinals Reliever Thrived in Starting Role by Maintaining Attack Mode Mindset from Bullpen
Gordon Graceffo bailed out the pitching-thin Cardinals on Thursday by using his experience as a starter and opening the game with three perfect innings. His work helped the Cards beat the Orioles 7-5 and snap a season-worst five-game losing streak.
Video Transcript
On Thursday afternoon, the Cardinals won for the first time in a week.
Finally, at long last, their season-long five-game losing streak is over.
The Cardinals got a seven-five win over the Orioles when they got a three-run home run from rookie Blaise Jordan, a two-run home run from U- Ramon Urias, Alec Burleson's 99th RBI of the season, and an RBI single late from Nathan Church to give them a little bit of insurance.
I'm John Denton with Round Table Sports.
Finally, the Cardinals losing streak is over, and even Riley O'Brien pitched in.
Now O'Brien, who's had his struggles of late, he blew the four-nothing lead in Philly with two outs on Sunday, and then he gave up a run, Wednesday night, against the Orioles in a, in a, in a one-run loss.
O'Brien gave up a hit, but he pitched a scoreless ninth inning and got his 34th, save, which is the National League lead.
On this day, the big blast came from Blaise Jordan, who also made the defensive play of the game.
Jordan hit a three-run home run in the second inning.
And get this, it was the 42nd home run this season hit by a Cardinal rookie.
That's the second most in all of baseball.
Only the Toronto Blue Jays have hit more home runs.
They've hit 60.
But the Cardinals have gotten 17 from JJ Weatherholt, 10 from Nathan Church, four from Josh Baez, three of them in dramatic fashion, four from Jimmy Crooks, four from Bla- Brian Torres, and three from Blaise Jordan.
That home run was special for Blaise Jordan because it was his first ever at Busch Stadium.
Of course, he grew up in Southaven, Mississippi, huge Cardinal fan, coming to games at Busch Stadium, so has to be special for Blaise Jor-Jordan.
He almost made He also made the defensive play of the game late in the, late in the game.
After the, Orioles got within, five-four, Gunnar Henderson broke for third base on a comebacker to the mound, George Soriano.
Soriano fired to third, but he threw wildly.
Jordan had to stop, change directions, catch the ball, and tag out Gunnar Henderson, all while he was spraining his left ankle.
It looked like a, a pretty bad injury.
Jordan was unable to put any weight on his foot.
He left the field, was helped off by trainer Chris Conroy and manager Oliver Marmol.
You wonder if it might require a, a stint on the injured list.
Of course, the Cardinals already have shortstop, Gold Glove shortstop, Mason Wynn on the injured list.
He's gonna be out until at least September 1st.
So if they lose Jordan, that's another hit on the infield.
They do have Nolan Gorman that can play there.
They have, Urias, who we mentioned earlier, and they also have super utility fielder, Jose Fermin, who could play third as well.
But, you hate to see, Jordan get injured on, on a special day when he hits his first home run ever at Busch Stadium.
But, all of it added up for a big win that the Cardinals desperately needed.
They had lost four games in a row five different times and always found a way to win.
The losing streak hit five this time, and the Cardinals were able to find a way to break that losing streak.
They got a big start from Gordon Graceffo, who was perfect through three innings.
Luis Castellum came on for Justin Brule.
Castellum is one of the hottest pitchers in the Cardinal bullpen right now.
He got the win, got his fourth win of the season.
Caleb Ferguson got the Cardinals in trouble.
He gave up a huge three-run home run to Colby Mayo.
And, and then, Soriano had some trouble, gave up that opposite field, double to, Gunnar Henderson that scored Jackson Holiday that made it a one-run game.
If not for that great play by Blaise Jordan, the Cardinals might not have hung on and won this game.
But anyway, Cardinals win seven-five.
Pittsburgh Pirates are next up.
They play a three-game series at Busch Stadium, coming up this weekend.
For your Cardinal report, I'm John Denton with Round Table Sports.
