St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras delivered a standout performance with a pair of two-run homers, leading his team to an 8-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
Contreras’ Big Night
- Early Impact: Contreras started the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning, clearing the bullpen fence in right field.
- Late Heroics: He added another two-run blast in the ninth inning, sending a 424-foot shot to left for his 15th multi-homer game.
“An absolute tank to left,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. “Some really good at-bats and big swings by Contreras.”
Key Moments in the Game
- Rally in the Eighth: Trailing 5-3, the Cardinals scored five runs on seven hits against six Royals relievers. Victor Scott II’s two-out, two-run double gave St. Louis a 6-5 lead.
“I was telling myself if he’s safe, it’s going to be definitely a critical situation in the ballgame,” Scott said. “Being able to come through right there is definitely special.”
- Liberatore’s Performance: Matthew Liberatore threw three hitless innings in relief, earning praise from Marmol for his sharp and dominant performance.
Offensive Highlights
- Burleson’s Contribution: Alex Burleson hit his team-leading 20th home run in the third inning, building a 3-0 lead for the Cardinals.
- Massey’s and Perez’s Hits: Kyle Isbel’s third-inning RBI triple ended his 0-for-21 slump, while RBI singles by Michael Massey and Salvador Perez tied the game.
Royals’ Struggles
- Starting Pitching: Michael Lorenzen, in his second start since joining from Texas, allowed three runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
- Streak Ends: The Royals failed to hit a home run, ending a 13-game streak of at least one home run, the second-longest streak in club history.
Additional Notes
- Mikolas’ Performance: Miles Mikolas allowed five runs on eight hits over four innings and has a 7.11 ERA over his past five starts.
- Hensley’s Save: Ryan Hensley earned his 37th save, allowing one hit and one walk.
The Cardinals’ victory was marked by timely hitting and solid relief pitching, showcasing their ability to rally from behind and secure the win.