OAKLAND, Calif. — Three wasn’t a lucky number for the Cardinals once again on Wednesday.
As has been the case for most of their games to begin this season, three runs were all they could score – for the third game in a row in Oakland – in losing the final game of the series. Three runs had been enough to win each of the first two games against the A’s.
The loss left the Cardinals 0-6 in the final game of a series to begin this season.
All of their runs came in the fourth inning, taking a 3-2 lead, but a three-run fifth inning put the A’s back in the lead to stay.
Here is how Wednesday’s game broke down:
At the plate: Willson Contreras had a pair of doubles to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, driving in the first run … Contreras also scored on a two-run single by Ivan Herrera later in the third, but those were the only two hits for the Cardinals in 10 at-bats with a runner in scoring position … They won two of the three games in the series despite going a combined 5-of-27 with a runner on second or third base … They did not get a hit after Contreras’ second double leading off the sixth inning … The Cardinals did not hit a home run in the final five games of the road trip to Arizona and Oakland, a combined 157 at-bats. They have now been out-homered 23-13 this season.
On the mound: Steven Matz gave up a two-run homer in the third, the first home run he has allowed this season, but carried the 3-2 lead into the fifth when he gave up two singles, a double and a sacrifice fly that gave the A’s a 5-3 lead … The A’s added their final run in the sixth off Ryan Fernandez … Matthew Liberatore pitched in his first game in a week, working 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Key stat: Paul Goldschmidt was hitless in three at-bats and since having three hits, including a home run, on opening day, he has gone 9-of-62, a .145 average, with no extra base hits in his last 17 games.
Worth noting: The Cardinals have scored three runs or less in 10 of their last 11 games, going 4-6 in those games … Ten of the Cardinals first 19 games this season were played in California, with six remaining on the schedule – three against the Angels in May and the last three games of the season in September against the Giants … Michael Siani started in center field for the second consecutive game and 0-of-2, leaving the team’s centerfielders, he and Victor Scott II, a combined 5-of-62 to begin this season with two RBIs … The combined performance of all of the team’s outfielders is just 34-of-191, a .178 average.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals will have the day off on Thursday before hosting the Brewers this weekend at Busch Stadium, their first games against an NL Central opponent this season. Kyle Gibson will be the starter in the opener on Friday night. It will be their only three division games until they go to Milwaukee on May 9.
Follow Rob Rains on Twitter @RobRains
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