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This ones on Dave Clark, he picked a real bad time to be aggressive. Yes, the Astros missed numerous opportunities during the game, but the biggest one was sending getting Jason Castro thrown out at the plate with NO OUTS.
In the eighth inning after Castro reached via a single, Marwin Gonzalez laid down a beautiful bunt that the Cardinals threw away. With Castro nearing third Clark decided it was a good time to send Castro home, only the Cardinals made a good throw to nail Castro at the plate. It was a close play, but instead of men on second and third with no outs, it was man on second with one out.
Gonzalez left the game injured on what appeared to be a leg collision at first base. Jose Altuve flew out to right field, to score Castr...oh wait...Nope Castro was thrown out before one of your best hitters came to the plate. Jed Lowrie walked and Fernando Martinez struck out to end the inning.
Pitching
Bud Norris got off to a slow start to begin the game, allowing three runs in the first inning and the fourth run of his evening in the third inning. He would, however, settle down just enough to strikeout 12 Cardinals, while issuing zero walks. Overall he went six innings, allowed four runs, all earned, on seven hits while striking out the previously mention 12 batters. Xavier Cedeno and Fernando Rodriguez would combine to pitch a perfect seventh and eighth inning. Brandon Lyon came on and pitched a perfect ninth. REGULATORS!
Offense
Jose Altuve had yet another multi-hit game, Brett Wallace and Jason Castro also contributed multi-hit games to this effort. Chris Johnson had a triple and Jed Lowrie both had walks. They made it close but ultimately missed opportunities and bad guidance did them in.
Defense
Jason Castro picked David Freese off third in the first inning when the Cardinals tried the old steal second, steal home play. Only Castro don't play that and threw down to third to get Freese in a run down.
Cardinals WPA player of the Game
Dave Clark
Thursday
7:05 PM CT J.A. Happ vs Lance Lynn.