OAKLAND, Calif — It wasn’t exactly a tribute to “Whiteyball” with only one stolen base, but the Cardinals found a way to win a game Tuesday night with a minimum amount of offense.
Two of their three runs were scored by hitters who reached base with a walk. One run scored on a groundout, and the other two runs were driven in with a fly ball as the Cardinals beat the A’s for the second night in a row in Oakland.
Of the Cardinals nine wins this season, four have come in games when they scored three runs. Overall, they have scored three runs or less in 12 of their 18 games this season.
The only stolen base came from Masyn Winn, but the Cardinals also had a runner, Brendan Donovan, thrown out trying to steal second. The Cardinals did flash some quality defense in the outfield with a diving catch in center by Victor Scott II in the seventh inning.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals managed only four hits and just one of them came in an inning when they scored their three runs. Two walks, a sacrifice bunt and Donovan’s groundout produced their first run in the third inning. In the sixth, Nolan Arenado led off with a single followed by two walks and sacrifice flies from Winn and Jordan Walker that produced their last two runs … The Cardinals had only four at-bats with a runner in scoring position, going 0-of-4.
On the mound: Lance Lynn became the first Cardinal to throw 100 pitches in a start this season, throwing 101 in his seven innings of work. He allowed five hits, including a solo homer, walked one and struck out one to earn his first victory of the year … JoJo Romero retired the side in order in the eighth before Ryan Helsley did the same in the ninth … Helsley has retired the last 12 batters he has faced over his last four games, recording seven strikeouts.
Key stat: Helsley has earned the save in seven of the Cardinals’ nine victories this season.
Worth noting: There was a moment of silence before the game in honor of former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog … The announced attendance of 3,296 was the smallest for a Cardinals game in a non-Covid affected game since 1989, not counting the game played at the site of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals will send Steven Matz to the mound on Wednesday to try to complete a sweep of the three-game series. Game time is 2:35 p.m. CDT.
Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains.
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